Falstaff: Verdi’s comic opera and swan song at the National Opera

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With Falstaff, Verdi surprised everyone, as not many believed that the now 80-year-old composer would compose another important work – and a comic one at that – after the great success of Othello

The comic opera “Falfast” by Verdi is staged by ELLS from January 26 for six performances, directed by the distinguished director and artistic director of the famous British Glidebourne Opera Festival, Stephen Langridge.

The leading Greek baritone Dimitris Platanias plays the title role.

This is Giuseppe Verdi’s swan song, based on Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor.

With Falstaff, Verdi surprised everyone, as not many believed that the now 80-year-old composer would compose another important work – and a comic one at that – after the great success of Othello (1887).

At the end of 1890 the composer wrote: “I enjoy composing music; without plans of any kind and I don’t even know if I will finish it… I repeat… I enjoy it. Falstaff is a rogue, who commits all kinds of mischief… But in a fun way. He’s a guy. Guys are so different! The opera is completely comical! Amen”.

The central figure is the fallen knight Sir John Falstaff and his love affairs, which make him a laughing stock in the small local community. At the end, after various comic tragedies, the play’s characters all sing together “Everything in the world is a joke… but he laughs best who laughs last.”

The work premiered at La Scala in Milan on February 9, 1893, marking the triumphant conclusion of the composer’s illustrious career in opera. In fact, the cheers after the premiere lasted half an hour. Before the year was out, Falstaff had performed in the major musical capitals of the world, from Buenos Aires to St. Petersburg. On the occasion of the different performances the composer made minor modifications to the score, which continued until the premiere given at the Paris Opéra Comique in May 1894.

The performances at the National Opera, January 26, 29 and February 1, 4, 7, 10, 2023 are held with the support of the donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to strengthen the artistic extroversion of the Greek National Opera.

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