Teatro Real has a new production by the talented master in humor, Laurent Pelly. His most recent productions on this stage have been: La Fille du régiment, Hänsel und Gretel and The Golden Cockerel. And together with Daniele Rustioni, he conducts the only Verdi’s opera buffa, based on Henry IV and The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare.

It is the last Italian comedia buffa presented with two markedly Spanish casts, together with the house Coro Intermezzo and the Madrid Symphonic Orchestra.

Sir John Falstaff gives two letters to each of his servants to be taken to two beautiful and rich, but married ladies: Mrs. Alice Ford and Mrs. Meg Page. Those two letters are exactly the same and in them Falstaff confesses his love for each lady, when in fact it is just their husband’s money that interests him.

Cast and Creative Team:

Musical director - Daniele Rustioni         
Stage Director and Costume Designer - Laurent Pelly   
Set designer - Barbara de Limburg          
Lighting designer - Duane Schuler          
Chorus Master - Andrés Máspero                

Cast:

Sir John Falstaff - Nicola Alaimo (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Roberto de Candia (Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7) 
Fenton - Joel Prieto (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Albert Casals (Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7)     
Dr. Caius - Christophe Mortagne             
Bardolfo - Mikeldi Atxalandabaso           
Pistola - Valeriano Lanchas         
Mrs. Alice Ford - Rebecca Evans (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Raquel Lojendio (Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7)      
Ford - Simone Piazzola (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Àngel Òdena (Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7)
Nannetta - Ruth Iniesta (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Rocío Pérez (Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7)
Mistress Quickly - Daniela Barcellona (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Marianna Pizzolato
(Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7)
Mrs. Meg Page - Maite Beaumont (Apr. 23, 25, 28, 30 · May 2, 6, 8) / Gemma Coma-Alabert (Apr. 24, 27 · May 1, 7)

Programme:

Commedia lirica in three acts

Music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Libretto by Arrigo Boito, based upon the plays Henry IV (1597) and The Merry Wives of Windsor (1601) by William Shakespeare
Premiered at the Teatro alla Scala of Milan on 9 February 1893
Premiered at the Teatro Real on 10 February 1894
New production by the Teatro Real, in co-production with the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie de Bruselas, the Opéra National de Bordeaux and Tokyo Nikikai Opera
Principal Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro Real (Coro Intermezzo / Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid)