Falstaff is an Italian-language opera by Michael William Balfe, written to a libretto by Manfredo Maggioni, given at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, 19 July 1838.Dan H. Marek, Giovanni Battista Rubini and the Bel Canto Tenors: History and Technique, Lanham MD, Scarecrow, 2013, : "After a performance of La prova d'una opera seria, on July 19, 1838, came the last premiere of Rubini's career, that of Fenton in Michael Balfe's Falstaff. It was the fiftieth role creation for the forty-four-year-old tenor. Balfe was the most popular “British” opera composer of the nineteenth century."
Recordings Falstaff: Marcel Vanaud (Falstaff), Majella Cullagh (Mistress Ford), Sam McElroy (Ford), Barry Banks (Fenton), Tara Erraught (Annetta), Nyle Wolfe (Mr Page), Victoria Massey (Mrs Page), Brendan Collins (Giorgio), Edel O'Brien (Mrs Quickly); RTÉ Concert Orchestra, National Chamber Choir of Ireland, conducted by Marco Zambelli, in association with Opera Ireland for RTÉ; available on CD: RTÉ lyric fm CD 119 (2012).
References
External links Céline Frigau Manning: Le Falstaff de Manfredo Maggioni et Michael Balfe : façonner un opéra italien pour le public anglais. Revue LISA, December 2011