from Act III, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Arrigo Boito

Role: Fenton, one of Nannetta's suitors

Voice Part: tenor       Fach: tenor leggiero

Setting: Windsor Park, Windsor, England, early 15th century

Synopsis: While in costume as Oberon, Fenton sings of his love for Nannetta in a sonnet.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Arrigo Boito

Role: Ford, a wealthy man, married to Alice Ford

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: lyric baritone

Setting: Inside the Garter Inn, Windsor, England, early 15th century

Synopsis: Ford has been alerted to Falstaff's plan to seduce his wife. He dresses in disguise and offers Falstaff money to help him seduce his own wife (although Falstaff doesn't know this because Ford is in disguise!). When Falstaff tells him that he has already "made the acquaintance" of the lady and leaves him there, Ford becomes angry and worries about the possibility of his wife betraying their marriage vows and actually giving in to Falstaff's advances.

from Act III, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Arrigo Boito

Role: Nannetta, the Fords daughter

Voice Part: soprano       Fach: soubrette

Setting: Windsor Park, Windsor, England, early 15th century

Synopsis: Nannetta, disguised as the Fairy Queen, calls the fairies out of their hiding places and commands them to dance.

from Act I, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Arrigo Boito

Role: Sir John Falstaff, a fat knight

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: heavy bass

Setting: Inside the Garter Inn, Windsor, England, early 15th century

Synopsis: After the shiftless Bardolph and Pistol surprisingly refuse to help Falstaff trick Mistress Ford and Mistress Page out of their money because of their "honor", Falstaff lectures them of the meaningless of "honor". Honor, he says, is nothing but a word. It means nothing after life is over and cannot heal broken bones or wounds. He finally chases the two of them out of the inn.

from Act II, Scene 2 of the Italian opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Arrigo Boito

Role: Sir John Falstaff, a fat knight

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: heavy bass

Setting: Ford's house, Windsor, England, early 15th century

Synopsis: While attempting to seduce Mistress Ford, Falstaff tells about his youth when he was thin and handsome and the page of the Duke of Norfolk.

from Act II, Scene 1 of the Italian opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Arrigo Boito

Role: Sir John Falstaff, a fat knight

Voice Part: baritone       Fach: heavy bass

Setting: Inside the Garter Inn, Windsor, England, early 15th century

Synopsis: When Dame Quickly tells Falstaff that both Mistress Page and Mistress Ford are in love with him, he rejoices with self-satisfaction.