Synopsis
Falstaff - English National Opera Guide 10 - includes libretto
Published by John Calder Publications
'A lyric comedy unlike any other,' wrote Verdi about Falstaff, his last opera
That the last work of a composer who was almost notorious for his preference for tragic and gloomy subjects should be a brilliant human comedy was and remains one of the wonders of music
Michael Rose considers its status in Italian comic opera tradition, while Davis Cairns pours his enthusiasm for the piece into a detailed and illuminating musical analysis
Andrew Porter, whose translation almost matches Boito's original libretto for elegance and wit, explains the challenges and risks of the undertaking in his fascinating introduction
REVIEWS
'Brilliantly produced and superb value' ~ Sunday Times
'All these will provide the new opera-goer with food for thought' ~ Daily Telegraph
'Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series' ~ TLS