Falstaff

Falstaff is Verdi's final masterpiece and a more than worthy operatic swan-song. While it is not one of my absolute favourites of his, it is a long way from his weakest and I'd actually say that it is in the better half of his operas. Falstaff is well served on record and on DVD, and while not my favourite production- the two Taddei performances, the earlier Ambrogio Maestri and Paul Plishka productions(Ruggero Raimondi's, from 2006, was the only one I didn't really care for)- this is really well done. The sound quality can sound distant and lacking in resonance especially with Fenton and Nannetta and any off-stage singing. And Antonio Gandia while having a nice lyric tone is rather unexciting as Fenton and his lovely if unevenly-produced voice is not always well-projected.

However, it is a very colourful production visually and very striking to look at(the huge wood panelled walls for instance). The stage direction is also great, with the comedy it feels very natural instead of being stuffy and trying too hard, Reverenza was one of the better done renditions of any performance of Falstaff on DVD, while the more human aspects of the drama- Ford's jealousy aria and quite a few moments for Falstaff- are done very touchingly. Musically, I can't complain really. It is a lush and stylish reading from the orchestra, the chorus sing vibrantly and don't show any signs of phoning in and the conducting is beautifully phrased, clear in direction and musicianly, really impressive for such a young conductor.

Ambrogio Maestri was along with the staging the best asset about the production, it is really an outstanding performance in the title role with naturalistic comic timing, nuances and a beautiful and authoritative sound with no strain or bluster. Luca Salsi's Ford is sung with a tone that is both dark and pretty, it is a lighter one than other Fords I've heard but coupled with great phrasing and musicianship and a menacingly commanding presence Salsi is one of the better Fords I've seen in recent years. Svetla Vassileva's voice is plush and agile, and she is a nicely understated Alice, while Daniela Pini makes for one of the most elegant Meg Pages on DVD.

Barbara Bargnesi's Nannetta is charming, maybe with a youthful sound that needs a little more experience and maturity but perfectly listenable, bright and lyrical and in terms of projection while it is not a big voice(Maestri has the biggest voice and the most experienced of the cast by far) she fares much better than Gandia. Romina Tomasoni is conniving and genuinely funny, in Reverenza she has some of the better enunciating of any Mistress Quickly on DVD, her voice doesn't boom out at the bottom like some in the role do but it is firm and characterfully produced. Caius, Bardolfo and Pistola are nicely characterised also. To conclude, a great fun production and one of the better productions from the Tutto Verdi collection(Rigoletto is still the best). 9/10 Bethany Cox