Falstaff

A refreshing and enjoyable alternative view of Falstaff and delivered well
This performance from 2002 and made at the Aix-en Provence Festival offers an engaging alternative view of Verdi's Falstaff. The cast are fully up to the task in hand and the Orchestra de Paris is one of the audio delights to fully savour on the recording being a much better orchestra than many orchestras to be found in many reputable theatres.

The production is essentially minimalist and consists of a polished wooden floor and slatted walls that enable the members of the cast to enter and exit rapidly. This keeps the element of surprise alive but more particularly greatly aids the fast forward flow of the production. Essentially this production centres the drama on the characters and their interaction rather than allowing any form of distraction to occur via staging. In these respects the production is a success.

The central figure of Falstaff is portrayed by Willard White who brings a considerable degree of dignity to the role. There is a touch of the worldly...

a great performance in very mediocre sound
I bought this DVD because of the above review - and the review is quite correct except that it fails to mention the sound quality which I found poorer than most pirated recordings of the 60's - that is congested and at times unclear. The picture quality also shows its age. Characters can lack clarity at times. BUT the production is wonderful and Donald Gramm is a pleasure.

An unusual production, poorly filmed
In response to another reviewer, I must first mention that the letterboxing worked fine on my non-widescreen TV. As to the opera itself, this is an interesting production, beautifully sung, with a clever scenic design. The cast is lively and engaging, and the same can be said for much of the staging; some moments, however, are oddly static. Willard White sings the title role, and sings it well. He is a virile, attractive man, and no attempt is made to make him the fat, ridiculous figure Shakespeare created and all the other characters constantly describe. Additionally, Mr. White plays the role very somberly, thus creating a curious depression at the center of this comedy. The Jamaican-born Mr. White is the only person of color on stage, and the accompanying booklet suggests the other characters' treatment of Falstaff is racially motivated, but this idea does not register in the staging. Picture and sound quality are clear and crisp, but the choices of what to film are...

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