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Cleveland Orchestra "Falstaff" from 2006

tco-falstaff2.jpg
tco-falstaff2.jpg

The acclaimed June, 2006, semi-staged performance of Verdi's Falstaff is given a reprise broadcast on Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 PM. The production is under the baton of Music Director Franz Welser-Moest with an all-star cast and The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.

Sir John Falstaff: Richard Sutcliff, b-br
Mrs. Alice Ford, Twyla Robinson, s
Mr. Ford, Alice's husband: Vladimir Chernov, br
Nannetta Ford, their daughter, Cinza Forte, s
Mistress Quickly: Felicity Palmer, ms
Fenton: Cataldo Caputo, t
Mrs. Meg Page: Kelley O'Connor, ms
Dr. Caius: Max Rene Cossotti, t
Bardolfo, a follower of Falstaff: Scott Scully
Pistola, a follower of Falstaff, Ain Anger, b

Verdi's librettist, Arrigo Boito, simplfied Shakespeare's story. He gave Verdi just a single pompous fool, who's also the unpleasant suitor. He left Falstaff just two hangers-on (who turn out to be more fun than one would be, because they sing in silly harmony. Ford storms in on Alice only once. Anne, renamed
Nannetta, becomes Alice's daughter to make the story focus on the Fords. Although it is Verdi's last opera, it is a merry romp for him to go out on.