AT THE OPERA
Favourites, Part 12
Prepared by Elaine Siversen
With Ian MacDonald

Verdi, G. Falstaff. Opera in three acts. Libretto by Arrigo Boito, after Shakespeare. First performed Milan, 1893.   

Verdi, G. Falstaff, Act I   
[29:56]

Verdi, G. Falstaff, Act II   
[41:57]

Verdi, G. Falstaff, Act III   
[43:23]

   SIR JOHN FALSTAFF: Geraint Evans, bar
MISTRESS ALICE FORD: Ilva Ligabue, sop
MISTRESS MEG PAGE: Rosalind Elias, mezz
NANETTE: Mirella Freni, sop
MISTRESS QUICKLY: Giulietta Simionato, mezz
BARDOLPH: Piero de Palma, ten
PISTOL: Giovanni Foiani, bass
MR. FORD: Robert Merrill, bar
DR. CAJUS: John Lanigan, ten
FENTON: Alfredo Kraus, ten
RCA Italiana Opera Ch & O/Georg Solti.Total Time: 1:55:13
Decca 478 3705

   Sir John Falstaff plans to acquire money by wooing two wealthy matrons, Alice Ford and Meg Page. He sends identical love letters to them. They, Alice’s daughter, Nanette, and their friend, Mistress Quickly, decide to punish Falstaff by arranging a rendezvous between Alice and Falstaff. Bardolph and Pistol tell Mr. Ford of Falstaff's plan and he believes his wife is unfaithful. When Falstaff attempts to woo Alice, Mistress Quickly announces Meg's arrival. Falstaff hides behind a screen. When Ford arrives to search the house, the women hide Falstaff in a hamper of dirty laundry which they throw out of the window.
Another meeting is arranged between Alice and Falstaff at midnight in Windsor Park. He is to dress as the antlered Black Hunter. The other women will dress as spirits. Mistress Quickly overhears Ford promise to wed his daughter Nanette to Dr. Caius that night and that she will be dressed as the Fairy Queen. However, Nanette loves Fenton.
Falstaff meets Alice in the moonlit park. The spirits rush in and torment Falstaff and he begs for mercy. When the joke is over, he says it was well deserved. Ford then announces that he will marry Dr. Cajus to the Fairy Queen and a second couple asks to be married. After the weddings, he learns that Bardolph has changed into the Fairy Queen’s costume and the second couple was Fenton and Nanette. Knowing that he was not the only one tricked, Falstaff proclaims it a good jest and everyone shares a hearty laugh.

Bizet, G. In the depths of the temple, from The pearl fishers (1863).    Jussi Björling, ten; Robert Merrill, bar; RCA Victor SO/Renato Cellini.
RCA GD 87799 [04:34]

Rossini, G. Selva opaca, from William Tell (1829).    Mirella Freni, sop; National PO/Riccardo Chailly.
Decca 440 844-2 [09:02]

Puccini, G. Che gelida manina, from La bohème (1896).    Alfredo Kraus, ten; National PO/James Levine.
EMI CDC 7 49929 2 [04:59]

Puccini, G. Quando m'en vo'soletta (Musetta.s Waltz song), from La bohème (1896)La boheeeeee    Amelia Farrugia, sop., BBC SO; Alexander Briger, conductor
Decca 987 5237 [02:31]

22:30 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
Prepared by Paul Cooke
With James Nightingale

Korngold, E. Excerpts from The Snowman (1908; orch. 1910 Zemlinsky).    Peter Manning, vn; BBC PO/Matthias Bamert.
Chandos CHAN 9631 [23:20]

Messiaen, O. Regard de la Vierge; Le baiser de l'Enfant Jésus; Regard de l'esprit de joie, from Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus (1944).    Angela Hewitt, pf.
Hyperion CDA67054 [27:59]

Penderecki, K. Symphony no 2, Christmas (1980).    Polish Sinfonia Iuventus O/Krzysztof Penderecki.
Dux 0897-0901 [33:25]