Be the first to comment!Falstaff at the Aurora Opera House celebrating Verdi’s 200th anniversary
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
The Teatru tal-Opra Aurora in victoria, Gozo joined the global world of opera last Saturday, by celebrating Giuseppe Verdi’s 200th anniversary, with the production of Falstaff – the composer’s last opera.
Argentine-born baritone Leonardo López Linares interpreted the title role. He was accompanied by baritone Marzio Giossi in the role of Mr. Ford, soprano Eva Mei as Alice, mezzo-soprnao Elisabetta Fiorillo as Mrs. Quickly, soprano Anna Skibinsky as Nannetta and soprano Agata Bienkowska as Mrs. Meg Page. They were flanked by tenor Filippo Adami in the role of Fenton, tenor Manuel Pierattelli as Dr. Cajus, tenor Stefano Consolini as Bardolfo and bass Gianluca Breda as Pistol.
The production was by Novella Tabili, which included the set designs. Scenes were painted by Paul Falzon, constructed by Teddy Mizzi and Anthony Buhagiar and illuminated by Donald Camilleri.
Falstaff brought together foreign and local talents behind the scenes, with props entrusted to Denis Mompalao, while wigs and make-up, a collaboration between Mara Casasola from Turin, Catherine Borg, Vanessa Schembri and Manwel Grech from within the Aurora theatre itself.
The classical interpretation of Falstaff included epochal costumes from Palermo’s Pipi, while other works entailing fabrics, sewing and related logistics were done by the Aurora’s costume department headed by Celine Debrincat.
Colin Attard directed the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra together with the Aurora Opera Chorus in a performance which the theatre said was very well received. Saying, that “the production of Falstaff has already been widely acclaimed as potentially one of the best the Aurora has ever staged.”
The production of Falstaff was held in honour and tribute to Colin Best – the theatre’s honorary patron – an English expatriate, resident in Gozo, and a long time supporter of the arts at the Aurora, who passed to a better life last February.
Photograph by Anthony M Bajada – “Tutto nel mondo é burla” – “Everything in life is a joke”: Falstaff with his deer horns gives the audience the final lesson in the final chorus that he laughs best who laughs last.
