FALSTAFF VERDI -BOITO AFTER SHEAKSPEARE`S MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR

Tutto nel mondo è burla... Tutti gabbati Ποτέ στην Ιστορία της μουσικής δεν εχει γραφεί κάτι ανάλογο.Εκτός απο μοναδικό αριστούργημα του Βέρντι ο Falstaff είναι το αμίμητο λουλούδι της Μεσογειακής μουσικής κουλτούρας.Μια απο τις τρείς καλύτερες μουσικές κωμωδιες,ξεδιπλώνεται μπροστά στον ακροατή-θεατή όπως ενα χρυσοκέντητο κέντημα, απο απίθανης αισθητικής ρομαντικές άριες και δυναμικές συγχρόνως.Πως είναι δυνατόν ενα τέτοιων ενορχηστρικών απαιτήσεων εργο να προέλθει απο έναν κουρασμένο μεγάλο Μουσουργό,ειναι ενα θαύμα.

SYNOPSIS

The scene is set in Windsor, in the reign of Henry IV of England.

Act I Part 1: Inside the Garter Inn. Falstaff’s carousing is interrupted by Dr Caius, who threatens to report him to the Star Chamber. Unable to ruffle Falstaff’s bibulous calm, Caius turns on Bardolph and Pistol who, the previous night, had made him drunk and emptied his purse; the charges are denied, and Caius storms out. Finding they have no money to pay the bill, Falstaff blames his companions. Bardolph’s glowing nose means they can economize on lanterns, but the savings are more than consumed in wine bills. He outlines a new enterprise: two wealthy citizens, Ford and Page, have beautiful wives; he will lay siege to their virtue as a means of getting at their husbands’ money (‘V’e noto un tal’). Bardoiph and Pistol refuse to assist so dishonourable an enterprise; Falstaff harangues them on the subject of Honour (‘L’Onore! Ladri!’ — ‘Puo l’onore riempirvi la pancia?’), before kicking them out. Part 2: The garden by Ford’s house. Alice and Meg have received identical love letters from Falstaff (‘Fulgida Alice! amor t’offro’), and decide he must be taught a lesson. Ford enters with Fenton and Caius (rivals for Nannetta’s hand), and Bardoiph and Pistol, from whom he learns that Falstaff is bent on seducing his wife and emptying his money bags. While the women engage Mistress Quickly to lure Falstaff to an assignation, Ford plans to visit the Garter Inn in disguise to investigate these tales. Twice Nannetta and Fenton break away from their companions to kiss in the shadow of the trees (‘Labbra di foco!’).

Act II

Part 1: Inside the Garter Inn. Mistress Quickly arrives with the answer to Falstaff’s letters (‘Reverenza!’): both wives love him, but only Alice is able to receive him — any day between two and three, when her husband is always out. Bardolph announces ‘Mastro Fontana’ (‘Master Brook’): ‘Fontana’ introduces himself as a wealthy man accustomed to want for nothing; but he has fallen in love with, Ford’s wife and all his wooing has been in vain (‘C’è a Windsor una dama’). The gold he has brought with him is Falstaff’s if he can seduce her, for once she has fallen to a man of the world like Sir John, she is more likely to listen to his own suit. Falstaff accepts the challenge; indeed it is almost won already, for he has an assignation with the lady in half an hour. He excuses himself a moment, and Ford is left alone, a prey to jealousy (‘E sogno? o realtà?’ —‘L’ora è fissata’). Falstaff returns, dressed to kill, and they go out together.

Part 2: A room in Ford’s house. Mistress Quickly reports on the success of her mission (‘Giunta all’Albergo della Giarrettiera’). A screen is set up, a lute laid ready, and servants carry in a laundry basket; they all look forward to the adventure (‘Gaie comari di Windsor’). Falstaff arrives, woos Alice ardently, and recalls the days of his slender youth (‘Quand’ero paggio’). But Ford is heard approaching; Falstaff hides behind the screen, while Ford, assisted by Caius, Bardolph and Pistol, seeks high and low for the intruder. He soon rushes off to another part of the house, Falstaff is bundled into the laundry basket, and Fenton and Nannetta retreat behind the screen. While Ford closes in on —as he supposes — his wife and Falstaff, Nannetta and Fenton continue their romantic tête-a -tête. The screen is snatched away, to reveal only the young lovers, and a new hunt for Falstaff begins on a false scent laid by Bardolph. The laundry basket is hauled to the window, and as soon as Ford returns Falstaff is tipped into the river.

Act III

Part 1: A courtyard outside the Garter Inn. Falstaff broods over his humiliation (‘Mondo ladro’); but the consolations of steaming wine are infallible. Mistress Quickly brings a letter inviting him to a midnight assignation in Windsor Park; but he must come disguised as the ‘Black Huntsman~ who haunts the forest. The conversation is overheard by the other wives, by Ford, Caius and Fenton; and while Falstaff accompanies Mistress Quickly into the inn they plan the details of the midnight masquerade. Mistress Quickly reappears to hear Ford plotting Nannetta’s marriage with Caius.

Part 2: Windsor Great Park. Fenton’s musings (‘Dal labbro il canto estasiato vola’) are interrupted by the wives: to outwit Ford and Caius last-minute changes of mask and costume are necessary. As midnight strikes, Falstaff enters; but his wooing of Alice is interrupted by the approach of a horde of spirits. With Falstaff prostrate on the ground in terror, Nannetta, disguised as the queen of the fairies, and her attendants weave a spell in solemn song and dance (‘Sul ifi d’un sofflo etesio’). Then, while she and Fenton are hurried away, fantastically garbed figures torment Falstaff and conduct him through a litany of repentance. In the excitement Bardoiph loses his hood; further unmaskings follow, and Falstaff realizes he has been made an ass of. Ford proposes that the betrothal of the queen of the fairies be celebrated: Caius’s bride proves, when unveiled, to be Bardoiph, while another masked couple brought forward for blessing are revealed as Nannetta and Fenton. Ford accepts the situation philosophically, and Falstaff leads the company in a fugal chorus celebrating the absurdity of the human condition (‘Tutto nd mondo è burla’).