Falstaff

By Giuseppe Verdi
Sung in Italian with English surtitles

"Everything in this world is in jest. Man is born a jester. Every mortal laughs at everybody else. But he that laughs last, laughs the best."

Departing from the usual tragic opera finale, these closing lines capture the spirit of Verdi's last opera, Falstaff.

Wine, women and song, together with the wisdom of old age inspired Verdi to turn to Shakespeare's rollicking rogue, Sir John Falstaff, for his final operatic work. Based on Shakespeare's Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff's lush score embellishes a story that is a comic blend of debauchery, jealousy, young love, deception and revenge in a plot hatched by the two "merry wives". Verdi's foray into comedy creates an Elizabethan sit-com, but his genius lies in his ability to retain beauty and true emotions in the characters.

Sir John Falstaff is Verdi's last great dramatic and enigmatic character - a charlatan, a buffoon and a deeply humane figure, all at once. He is a man who feels that life is worth living to the full; and in the attempt to recapture the springtime of his life with the merry wives he comes face to face with his imminent winter.

A lively romp through the inns, castles and countryside of Elizabethan England, Falstaff's long-awaited New Zealand première is an exciting new production starring internationally-renowned bass, Conal Coad. Conal returns home to perform as the lovable rogue, following his successful and highly-acclaimed debut in the role in the UK.

An opera set to leave audiences with a knight to remember!

"Conal Coad....is a revelation. His resonant bass-baritone subtly and confidently illuminates the text and his playing deftly deploys the knight's chameleon attributes. He imbues....a touching, unselfconscious pathos." -
The Stage - UK, February 2000

Featured Cast:

The Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus
Auckland Philharmonia (Auckland)
Wellington Sinfonia (Wellington)

The management reserves the right to make alterations to the cast due to unavoidable circumstances

Dates