The music is sparkling,
energetic and enhances the comedy of this most famous of characters. The work is
typical of the bel-canto style, sprinkled with delightful arias, duets and
quartets. The critics were complimentary about the performance and their praise
for the 27 year old Balfe was exceptional. The performance by Opera Ireland
on
September 25, 2008 was the first performance
since then.
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The
cast for the 2008 performance
was:-
Marcel Vanaud (bass) ... Falstaff;
Majella Cullagh (sop) ... Mrs. Ford;
Sam
McElroy (bass) ...
Ford;
Barry Banks (ten) ... Fenton;
Tara Erraught (sop) ... Annetta;
Nyle Wolfe (bass
bar) ... Mr. Page;
Victoria
Massey (mezzo) ... Mrs. Page;
Brendan Collins (bar)
... Giorgio;
Edel O�Brien (cont) ... Mrs. Quickly
National Chamber Choir of Ireland with
the RT� Concert Orchestra,
conductor Marco Zambelli
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RTÉ lyric fm
broadcast the concert and have released a CD [RTE CD119] of the performance.
Opera
Ireland has excelled in an outstanding performance under Marco Zambelli's
enthusiastic direction: his good tempi emphasise the rhythmic pace of energetic numbers. The orchestra plays with
gusto and the recording is superb, with mellow cellos and a rich
timbre. Basil Walsh has provided a short report
on the concert
here
and there is a review of it from the Irish Times
here. The CD is reviewed on Musicweb-International here.
Sample tracks:
1 D'umana gente: Chorus &
Falstaff Falstaff encounters witches,
deep in the forest
2 Lascia che: Mrs Ford
sings of her endearment to Falstaff and he responds with equal pleasure
3 Oh mia giola: Falstaff sings to Mrs Ford of his happiness and contentment in life
Copies of
the CD can be obtained from Victorian Opera Northwest at 20GBP
(UK), including postage and packing. Outside the UK p
& p is charged at cost.
The
orchestral score and band parts
are available for hire. Please contact
us for more information.
� Victorian Opera
Northwest, 2005 - 2010.
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