Giuseppe Verdis operatic comedy Falstaff receives a brand-new staging by Sir David McVicar, conducted by Stuart Stratford.
Incorrigible rake, freeloader, past-it playboy " Sir John Falstaff needs a ruse so that he can continue his life of excess. He decides to try his luck with two of Windsors upstanding married women, writing them identical love letters in the hope of seducing them " and of bagging some cash from their rich husbands. But sly Alice Ford and shrewd Meg Page quickly spot his scheme and resolve to teach the drunken rogue a lesson he wont quickly forget.
Adapted from Shakespeares The Merry Wives of Windsor, Verdis final opera Falstaff is a fast-paced, life-affirming comedy; a boisterous send-up of larger-than-life excess, but also an affectionate celebration of the irrepressibility of the human spirit.
Scottish Opera returns to the International Festival with a new production by Glasgow-born director Sir David McVicar, specially adapted from the outdoor presentation. His new staging gets to the bones of Falstaff, balancing the laugh-out-loud moments with a poignant tale of a childlike man who has outlived his own time " full of experience and regret, but ultimately a glorious celebration of life itself.
Written when the composer was nearing 80, Falstaff is Verdis big belly laugh of a sign-off to the operatic world, with a quicksilver score that bubbles with wit and revelry " a riotous comedy thats as wise as it is witty.
Sung in English with English supertitles
Supported by Sir Ewan and Lady Brown
Scottish Opera
A new co-production with Santa Fe Opera
Stuart Stratford Conductor
Sir David McVicar Director & Designer
Lizzie Powell Lighting Designer
Andrew George Choreographer
Hannah Postlethwaite Assistant Set Designer
Lorna Price Associate Costume Designer
Amanda Holden Translation
Cast includes
Roland Wood Sir John Falstaff
Elgan Llr Thomas Fenton
Phillip Rhodes Ford/ Mr Brook
Aled Hall Dr Caius
Jamie MacDougall Bardolph
Alastair Miles Pistol
Elizabeth Llewellyn Alice Ford
Gemma Summerfield Nanetta
Sioned Gwen Davies Meg Page
Louise Winter Mistress Quickly
Lauren Ellis"Steele, Jamie Francis, Caleb Hughes, Josh Kiernan, Allan Othieno and Sally Swanson Actors
Verdi Falstaff
Sung in English with English supertitles
