When was the opera Falstaff first performed?
The first performance of Falstaff took place at La Scala in Milan on the 9th of February 1893. This premiere occurred nearly six years after Verdi's previous opera premiere.
Questions about Falstaff (opera)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote the libretto for Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff opera?
Arrigo Boito wrote the libretto for Falstaff based on The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV parts 1 and 2. He adopted an archaic form of Italian to connect Shakespeare's farce to its Tuscan source while trimming the plot and deepening the character of Falstaff.
What year did Arturo Toscanini begin conducting Falstaff at La Scala?
Arturo Toscanini returned to La Scala in 1921 and remained in charge there until 1929, presenting Falstaff in every season during that period. He had previously programmed the work from the start of his tenure as musical director of the Metropolitan Opera in 1908.
Which singers recorded the title role in early Falstaff recordings?
Victor Maurel sang the title role in the original production and made a recording of Falstaff's short arietta in 1907. Pini Corsi recorded the same arietta in 1904 as the original Ford, and Giacomo Rimini played Falstaff in the first complete studio recording by Italian Columbia in 1932.
How does the musical structure of Falstaff differ from Verdi's earlier operas?
Falstaff is through-composed with no list of numbers printed in the published full score and features no overture before the first voice enters. The work contains only one traditional aria while most musical expression occurs within the dialogue rather than in set pieces.