“If Falstaff got thinner, what would he be?” Sir John Falstaff loves food, wine and women – and urgently needs cash to pay off his debts. Despite his advanced age, he considers himself an irresistible heartthrob and writes two identical love letters to Mrs Alice Ford and Mrs Meg Page in order to get his hands on their husbands’ money. But the two women see through his plan and begin to play him at his own game ...

With his final opera, which premiered in Milan in 1893, the almost 80-year-old Giuseppe Verdi turned for only the second time to comedy and virtually reinvented himself as a composer. In keeping with Arrigo Boito’s text, which plays skilfully with words, references and poetic devices, Verdi created a dynamic score full of lightness and depth, interspersed with melancholy and lyrical moments, leading up to the famous closing fugue: “Everything in the world is a jest!”

Following the great success of his production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola in 2021, Damiano Michieletto is now directing Verdi’s commedia lirica as a fast-paced, opulently staged comedy about an ageing musician who nostalgically reminisces about his former success and conquests, while at the same time upsetting the apple cart in a hidebound, strait-laced society. For Daniele Gatti, here overseeing his first opera at the Semperoper as Principal Conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden, Falstaff is “a true marvel’ and “a study of the human condition”.

Storyline

Act I

Dr. Caius is furious: the previous night, Sir John Falstaff's servants Bardolfo and Pistola got him drunk and robbed him. Unimpressed, Falstaff sends him away and confides to Bardolfo and Pistola a new plan: he will seduce the wealthy wives Alice Ford and Meg Page in order to pay off his debts with their husbands' money. When Bardolfo and Pistola refuse to deliver his two love letters – “honor” forbids it – Falstaff releases them from his services.

Alice Ford and Meg Page are amusing themselves with Alice's daughter Nannetta and her friend Mrs. Quickly over the two identical love letters they have received from Falstaff. They reflect on how they can take revenge. Mrs. Quickly is to deliver to Falstaff an invitation for a rendezvous with Alice.

Meanwhile, Bardolfo and Pistola tell Mr. Ford about Falstaff's plan. Consumed with jealousy, Mr. Ford hatches a plan with Dr. Caius, who is courting Nannetta, and Fenton, Nannetta's lover: he will visit Falstaff under a false name. In the meantime, Nannetta and Fenton seize the opportunity to exchange caresses unobserved.

Plot

Act II

Feigning regret, Bardolfo and Pistola return to Falstaff's services. Mrs. Quickly delivers the invitation: Alice is expecting Falstaff between two and three o'clock when her husband is out of the house. Next, a Mr. Fontana – none other than the disguised Mr. Ford – appears and offers Falstaff money if he seduces Alice. He himself has long been in love with Alice in vain, he says, and hopes that afterward she will no longer be indifferent to him. Falstaff informs him that he has a rendezvous with Alice that same afternoon. Remaining behind alone, Ford rages with anger and jealousy.

Mrs. Quickly, Alice Ford, and Meg Page prepare for Falstaff's visit. Alice consoles her daughter Nannetta, who is to marry Dr. Caius at her father's request. Falstaff appears and woos Alice when, as planned, Meg Page interrupts the tête-à-tête and warns of the jealous Ford who is approaching. A little later, Mrs. Quickly announces that Ford is indeed coming. The women hide Falstaff when Mr. Ford arrives with Dr. Caius, Bardolfo, and Pistola to accuse his wife of adultery. Instead, he catches Nannetta and Fenton kissing. Falstaff is ridiculed to the amusement of all.

Act III

The humiliated Falstaff moans the wickedness of the world, but a glass of mulled wine cheers him up. Mrs. Quickly delivers the news that Alice has invited him to a midnight rendezvous. Meanwhile, the reconciled Fords are preparing their next plot: everyone, in disguise, will give Falstaff a good scare. Ford secretly promises Dr. Caius that he will marry Nannetta that evening – but Mrs. Quickly eavesdrops on them. Alice devises a plan to thwart Nannetta and Dr. Caius’ marriage arranged by Ford.

Falstaff appears at the agreed meeting place at midnight. The masquerade begins, but after a time Falstaff sees through what is happening. Meanwhile, Alice's plan comes to fruition – Nannetta is married to Fenton, while Dr. Caius’ supposed bride turns out to be Bardolfo. Mr. Ford admits defeat, gives the young couple his blessing and everyone joins in: "All of Creation’s a farce! Everyone ridicules everyone else, but he who has the last laugh laughs longest."