Balfe's Falstaff (1838)

(This article gives some background to the 2008 RTÉ recording of Balfe's Falstaff ).

Balfe was invited to compose an opera for the Italian season at Her Majesty's Theatre, London in 1838 and Falstaff, from Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, was selected. The internationally famous Grisi and Lablache sang in its impressive premiere production. The opera was written in the heyday of Balfe's career when he was young, confident of success, and fresh with ideas from his studies in Italy. With words by Manfredo Maggione (a friend of Verdi's wife) and here, with a new performing edition by Dr. Valerie Langfield (from the full Falstaff score held at the British Library), this rarity can now be heard for the first time in 170 years.

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.

 

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

 

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.