Salieri’s opera of jealous derring-do tells the story of the merchant Blasio’s jealous love for his wife Ernestina; of the Count of Baniera’s love for Ernestina; of the Countess’s supposed love for the Lieutenant; and of Blasio’s love for Lisetta (who we never see in the opera). All are reconciled in the finale which takes place in the woods. The plot has been understood as a set of dangerous (but unrealised) entanglements, in which the aristocracy, the bourgeoisie, and the servant class come close to crossing established social norms.

Summer Opera 2025

New College

Based upon The Merry Wives of Windsor, Salieri’s Falstaff remains one of the earliest operatic versions of Shakespeare’s play. It tells the story of the boastful Sir John Falstaff’s attempts to woo two wealthy married women, but his plans are haltered through witty and elaborate pranks. A central moment includes a scene in which Falstaff, hiding from Mr Ford in a laundry basket, is carried out of the house from under his nose. The work premiered at the Karntnertortheater in Vienna on 3 January 1799 and was much admired. It would seem the very features that cause Shakespeareans to look down upon the original work — his only small-town drama — are the aspects that benefit this successful opera buffa, in which trickery, chaos, and excellent music combine to make this a rambunctious event indeed.

Ben Gilchrist

Events

Past events

2 - 11 Jul, 2025

Summer Opera 2025 · New Chamber Opera

2 - 3 May, 2025

Shakespeare in Music · New Chamber Opera

Future and recently performed repertoire

Falstaff in Falstaff by Salieri

New Chamber Opera

Lumaca in La scuola de' gelosi by Salieri

New Chamber Opera

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