On Thursday evening I was in Llandudno to watch a rare treat, a Verdi comedy.
Come on own up who can deny wiping away a tear or two at the tragic stories of La Traviata and Otello.
Back to the comedy
The opera is based on the Shakepeare play The Merry Wives Of Windsor and tells the tale of Sir John Falstaff an extremely portly (and fast approaching advanced years) gentleman who believes his size makes him attractive to women.
To maintain his vast frame his gluttony has landed him in financial trouble with the local innkeeper and so Falstaff hatches a plot to woo two married ladies (who incidently control their husbands' finances)
He sends identical letters to both women suggesting an (cough) assignation.
The two ladies, Alice and Meg, meet and discover they have received identical letters with just the name of the recipient changed.They hatch a plot to teach Falstaff a lesson. Alice invites Falstaff to meet her,but her very jealous husband has discovered the invitation and plans to foil the meeting.To hide Falstaff from her husband Alice(helped by daughter Nannetta and Meg) bundle him into a washing basket with the dirty laundry and throw him into the Thames.
Undeterred Falstaff agrees another assignation this time in Herne's Oak in Windsor great park where he must come wearing antlers. When he arrives he is set upon by nymphs, elves and sylphs (who are the merry wives of Windsor and their children in disguise).
Anyway as they say they all lived happily everafter.

This was another superb production from Welsh National Opera, sung in Italian with English (and Welsh) surtitles with none other than the great Welsh Bass-Baritone Bryn Terfel playing the part of Falstaff.
You probably can't tell but I am a big fan of WNO having attended several performances.
A thoroughly enjoyable evenings entertainment.

Glad you had a great time.

I have it in the back of my mind that my cousin married a chap who has -is? with the WNO.

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What's French for croissant?

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