Verdi's Falstaff Is April 1, 2023, Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcast

Summary: Verdi's Falstaff is the April 1, 2023, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing as the 14th of the 2022-2023 season's 24 Saturday radio broadcasts.

Ailyn Pérez makes her first reprisal of Alice Ford in the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's second revival of Robert Carsen's 2013-2014 season-debuting new production of Verdi's Falstaff; she had added Alice Ford to her Met Opera portfolio in the production's first revival during the 2018-2019 season: AILYN PÉREZ @ailynperezsop, via Twitter March 7, 2023

Verdi's Falstaff is the April 1, 2023, Saturday matinee radio broadcast, airing at 12:30 p.m., Eastern Time, as the 14th of the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

Nineteenth-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901) set his musical score for Falstaff to an Italian libretto by Italian composer and librettist Arrigo Boito (Feb. 24, 1842-June 10, 1918). Boito sourced his libretto from a comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and two historical plays, Henry IV Part 1 and Part 2, by Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare (bapt. April 26, 1564-April 23, 1616).

Verdi's Falstaff premiered Thursday, Feb. 9, 1893, at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Lombardy, north central Italy. As Verdi's 26th and last opera, Falstaff numbered as the 10th and last La Scala premiere of a Verdi opera.

The United States premiere of Falstaff took place Monday, Feb. 4, 1895, at the first Metropolitan Opera House, located at 1411 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan's Garment District. Falstaff received 12 performances in the 1894-1895 Met Opera season.

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season stages Verdi's Falstaff as the second revival of the new production debuted by Robert Carsen (born 23 June 1954) in the 2013-2014 season. The production's first revival took place in the 2018-2019 season. The production's Canadian opera director had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, March 13, 1997, in the opera company's 104th performance of Eugene Onegin by Russian late Romantic era composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840-Nov. 6, 1893).

The second revival of Carsen's Falstaff received six performances in the 2022-2023 season. The second revival opened with a Sunday matinee, March 12, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The second through fourth performances took place Thursday, March 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 19, at 3:00 p.m.; and Thursday, March 23, at 7:30 p.m. The second revival's fifth performance is scheduled for Wednesday, March 29, at 8:00 p.m. The second revival's sixth and last performance, slated for Saturday, April 1, at 12:30 p.m., airs as the 2022-2023 season's 14th Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

Daniele Rustioni conducts all six of the second revival's performances. The Italian conductor had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, March 23, 2017, in the opera company's 1,156th performance of Verdi's Aida.

Michael Volle sings the title role of an alcoholic seducer who, after humiliating comeuppances, good-naturedly and philosophically assesses life as jest-filled. The German baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 3, 2014, as Mandryka in the opera house’s 53rd performance of Arabella by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sep. 8, 1949).

Ailyn Pérez sings Alice Ford, who successfully strategizes with Meg Page and Mistress Quickly to thwart Falstaff's amorous pursuits and to bring about her daughter Nannetta's marriage to Fenton. Ailyn Pérez's appearances in the 2022-2023 season's second revival of Carsen's production mark her first reprisal of the role that she added to her Met Opera portfolio during the 2018-2019 season's first revival of Carsen's Falstaff. The American operatic soprano had made her Metropolitan Opera debut Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, as Micaëla in the opera company’s 994th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Marie-Nicole Lemieux sings Mistress Quickly, who devises ploys that entrap Falstaff. Marie-Nicole Lemieux's appearances in the 2022-2023 season's second revival of Carsen's production mark her first reprisal of the role that she added to her Met Opera portfolio during the 2018-2019 season's first revival of Carsen's Falstaff. The Canadian coloratura contralto’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 15, 2019, as Geneviève in the opera company’s 115th performance of Pelléas et Mélisande by French Impressionist composer Achille-Claude Debussy (Aug. 22, 1862-March 25, 1918).

Christopher Maltman sings Ford, who unknowingly weds his daughter, Nannetta, to her choice, Fenton, instead of his choice, wealthy Dr. Caius. The British operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sep. 24, 2005, as Harlekin in the opera company’s 79th performance of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos.

Hera Hyesang Park sings Nannetta, whom her mother and her merry friends help to marry her choice, Fenton, instead of her father's choice, Dr. Caius. The South Korean lyric coloratura soprano had made her Met Opera debut Feb. 2, 2017, as the First Wood Sprite in the opera house's 28th performance of Rusalka by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák (Sep. 8, 1841-May 1, 1904).

Bogdan Volkov sings Fenton, whose marriage to Nannetta takes place via a ruse concocted by Nannetta's mother, Alice, and Alice's friends, Meg Page and Mistress Quickly. The Russian tenor had made his Met Opera debut Monday, April 23, 2018, as Tybalt in the opera company's 344th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Jennifer Johnson Cano sings Meg Page, co-plotter with her merry friends in teaching lessons to Falstaff and bringing about the marriage of Nannetta Ford and Fenton. Jennifer Johnson Cano's appearances in the 2022-2023 season's second revival of Carsen's Falstaff mark her second reprisal of the role that she added to her Met Opera portfolio during the 2013-2014 season's debut of Carsen's new production of Falstaff. The American operatic mezzo-soprano had made her Met Opera debut Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2009, as a Peasant in the opera company’s 442nd performance of Le Nozze di Figaro by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Robert Carsen’s production team comprises Paul Steinberg, set designer; Brigitte Reiffenstuel, costume designer; and Robert Carsen and Peter Van Praet, lighting designers. American set designer Paul Steinberg had made his Met Opera debut Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, in the opera company's 288th performance of Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. German costume designer Brigitte Reiffenstuel had made her Met Opera debut Monday, Feb. 16, 2009, in the opera company's 600th performance of Verdi's Il Trovatore. Belgian lighting designer Peter Van Praet had made his Met Opera debut Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in the debut of Robert Carsen's new Falstaff production, during the opera company's 176th performance of Falstaff.

The 2022-2023 Met Opera season's lineup of Saturday matinee broadcasts continues with the April 8, 2023, airing of Puccini's Tosca at 1:00 p.m. The matinee performance numbers as the 15th of the season's 24 Saturday matinee opera broadcasts.

(upper left) Jennifer Johnson Cano, Ailyn Pérez and Hera Hyesang Park as Meg Page, Alice Ford and Nannetta Ford; (upper right) Ailyn Pérez and Michael Volle as Alice Ford and amorous Falstaff; (lower left) Bogdan Volkov and Mera Hyesang Park as Fenton and Nannetta; (lower right) Christopher Maltman and Ailyn Pérez as Mr. and Mrs. Ford; Nicholas V. Hall / Met Opera photographer: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Feb. 27, 2023

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Ailyn Pérez makes her first reprisal of Alice Ford in the 2022-2023 Met Opera season's second revival of Robert Carsen's 2013-2014 season-debuting new production of Verdi's Falstaff; she had added Alice Ford to her Met Opera portfolio in the production's first revival during the 2018-2019 season: AILYN PÉREZ @ailynperezsop, via Twitter March 7, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/ailynperezsop/status/1633194268369080327

(upper left) Jennifer Johnson Cano, Ailyn Pérez and Hera Hyesang Park as Meg Page, Alice Ford and Nannetta Ford; (upper right) Ailyn Pérez and Michael Volle as Alice Ford and amorous Falstaff; (lower left) Bogdan Volkov and Mera Hyesang Park as Fenton and Nannetta; (lower right) Christopher Maltman and Ailyn Pérez as Mr. and Mrs. Ford; Nicholas V. Hall / Met Opera photographer: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Feb. 27, 2023, @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1630334043026780165

For further information:

AILYN PÉREZ @ailynperezsop. "One step at a time. Piece by piece, we are getting ready for our opening night on March 12! http://metopera.org/season/2022-23-season/falstaff/ Live in HD Broadcast on April 1! #ailynperez #falstaff #verdi @metopera #metopera #soprano #iloveopera #operalife #instaopera." Twitter. March 7, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/ailynperezsop/status/1633194268369080327

"Debut: Marie-Nicole Lemieux." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 357118 Pelléas et Mélisande {115} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/15/2019, Metropolitan Opera Radio Sirius XM channel 75 Broadcast live Streamed at metopera.org. (Debut: Marie-Nicole Lemieux Broadcast/Streamed). Metropolitan Opera House. January 15, 2019 Broadcast/Streamed.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357118

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Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355797

Debuts: Andrea Shin, Bogdan Volkov." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356960 Roméo et Juliette {344} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/23/2018.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356960

“Debuts: Dan Ettinger, Emma Bell, Jennifer Johnson Cano.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353075 Le Nozze di Figaro {442} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/22/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353075

"Debuts: Daniele Rustioni, Jorge de León." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356669 Aida {1156} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/23/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356669

"Debuts: Hyesang Park, Anthony Clark Evans, Daniela Mack, Austin McCormick." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356617 New production Rusalka {28} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/02/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356617

“Debuts: Jon Villars, Diana Damrau, Christopher Maltman.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351297 Ariadne auf Naxos {79} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 09/24/2005.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351297

"Debuts: Marianna Tarassova, Irina Arkhipova, Antonio Pappano, Robert Carsen, Michael Levine, Jean Kalman, Serge Bennathan." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 327650 New Production Eugene Onegin {104} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/13/1997. (Debuts: Marianna Tarassova, Irina Arkhipova, Antonio Pappano, Robert Carsen, Michael Levine, Jean Kalman, Serge Bennathan Review). Metropolitan Opera House. March 13, 1997. New Production.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=327650

“Debuts: Michael Volle, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Juliane Banse, Roberto Saccà, Brian Jagde, Martin Winkler, Scott Dispensa.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355411 Arabella {53} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/03/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355411

"Debuts: Paul Steinberg, Adam Silverman, Maxine Braham." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354641 New Production Un Ballo in Maschera {288} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/08/2012, Metropolitan Opera Radio Sirius XM channel 74 Broadcast live Streamed at metopera.org. (Debuts: Paul Steinberg, Adam Silverman, Maxine Braham Broadcast/Streamed Review). Metropolitan Opera House. November 8, 2012. Broadcast/Streamed. New Production.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354641

“Debuts: Peter Van Praet, Paolo Fanale, Carlo Bosi, Christian Van Horn.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355173 Falstaff {176} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/06/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355173

Marriner, Derdriu. "Falstaff Is the March 16, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, March 11, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/03/falstaff-is-march-16-2019-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Met Opera's 2022-2023 Season Has 24 Saturday Matinee Opera Broadcasts." Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/11/met-operas-2022-2023-season-has-24.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "Rehearsals for Verdi’s comedic masterpiece Falstaff are in full swing! Maestro Daniele Rustioni conducts @RobertCarsen’s celebrated staging. Opens Mar 12: http://bit.ly/39qspgx. Nicholas V. Hall / Met Opera." Twitter. Feb. 27, 2023.
Available via Twitter @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1630334043026780165