Falstaff

by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Arrigo Boito based on Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor & Henry IV

Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona, Spain
Co-production Welsh National Opera and Opéra de Lyon
GRAN TEATRE DEL LICEU DE BARCELONA, November – December 2010 

DIRECTOR: PETER STEIN
Revival Director: NIK ASHTON
Assistant Director: JORDI FAURA
Directing Secondment: SALLY BLACKWOOD
Conductor: FABIO LUISI

FALSTAFF is one of Verdi’s few forays into comic opera. The libretto by Arrigo Boito is based on William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”. The leading character, despite his inevitable buffo traits and his grasping, calculating hedonism, possesses a natural dignity and intelligence which make him deeply endearing.

The plot recounts how two wealthy ladies from Windsor successfully set a trap to punish him for his ridiculous attempts to woo them. The ending, needless to say, is happy.

Set Designer: LUCIO FANTI
Costume Designer: MOIDELE BICKEL
Lighting Designer: ROBERT BRYAN  (Original), IAN JONES (Revival)

Ambrogio Maestri (Falstaff), Ludovic Tézier (Ford), Joel Prieto (Fenton), Raúl Giménez (Doctor Cajus), Francisco Vas (Bardolfo), Carlos Chausson (Pistola), Fiorenza Cedolins (Mrs. Alice Ford), Mariola Cantarero (Nannetta), Elisabetta Fiorillo (Mrs. Quickly), Maite Beaumont (Mrs. Meg Page), Julián Corrià (Robin), Pere Bohigas (Mine Host of the Garter Inn), Orchestra and Chorus of the Gran Teatre del Liceu with José Luis Basso (Chorus Master).