SAN DIEGO, Calif. – San Diego Opera’s mainstage season continues Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 with Verdi’s Falstaff. An international cast of opera stars brings the story of Falstaff, Shakespeare’s beloved character from his plays The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV, to life in Verdi’s final opera he composed and only his second comedy. Falstaff opens at the San Diego Civic Theatre of Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 for four performances. Additional performances are Feb. 21 and 24 at 7 p.m., and Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.
Making an important Company debut is baritone Roberto de Candia who has sung the role of Falstaff to critical acclaim in Germany and Finland. He is joined by returning soprano Ellie Dehn (last seen as here as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in 2015) as Alice Ford. Also in Company debuts are baritone Troy Cook as Ford, soprano Maureen McKay as Nannetta, and tenor Jonathon Johnson as Fenton. A roster of San Diego Opera favorites is also returning for this opera including mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti (last heard here in the Company’s 50th Anniversary Concert in 2015) as Dame Quickly, mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chávez (last heard here as Maddalena in Rigoletto in 2009) as Meg Page, tenor Simeon Esper (last heard here as Juan in Don Quixote in 2014) as Bardolfo, bass Reinhard Hagen (last heard here in the 50th Anniversary Concert in 2015) as Pistola, and tenor Joel Sorenson (last heard as Rodriguez in Don Quixote in 2014) as Dr. Caius. Leading from the podium for these performances is Daniele Callegari whose conducting was last heard locally in 2015’s Don Giovanni. Stage director Olivier Tambosi makes a highly-anticipated directing debut in this production rented from the Lyric Opera of Chicago with sets and costumes designed by Frank Philipp Schlössmann. The lighting designer is Christine A. Binder.
Falstaff tells the story of Shakespeare’s portly knight of Windsor and his comic misadventures when he tries to court two different married women. Falstaff will be performed in Italian with English translations above the stage. This is the third time Falstaff has been performed by the Company with the other performances occurring in 1999 and 1978.
Falstaff will have a radio broadcast on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 8 PM on KPBS radio, 89.5 FM (97.7 FM Calexico) and online at www.kpbs.org
