Arizona Opera presents
Falstaff
Never before seen on the Arizona Opera stage, Verdi’s Falstaff comes to life in this new production opening April Fools’ Day. Irascible, randy and boastful, John Falstaff concocts a scheme to seduce the wealthy Wives of Windsor and nab their riches. His plot quickly unravels in a series of elaborate pranks as the clever women enlist everyone to outwit the old rascal.
Based on the Shakespearean character, Falstaff was Verdi’s final opera, and some consider his finest. The character of Falstaff, the gluttonous buffoon has been a familiar archetype for centuries, from Shakespeare’s time to today’s Homer Simpson. This hilarious comedy centers around the eternal battle of the sexes with some of the most lush orchestral phrasing ever composed.
Tickets start at $25 and are on sale at www.azopera.org or by calling 602-266-7464 (Phoenix) or 520-293-4336 (Tucson).
ON-STAGE EXPERIENCE
Upgrade to the Gallery seating, located on-stage, for $175 per seat. The Gallery Package includes on-stage seating in the Patron Boxes in the”Old Globe” Replica Theater, a pre-performance reception and commemorative photo.
Arrive at the theater one hour prior to curtain for a pre-performance chat with Arizona Opera Director of Education, Joshua Borths.
FALSTAFF CAST
Craig Colclough – Falstaff
Bass-Baritone Craig Colclough returns to the Arizona Opera stage as the title role in Falstaff. He began his career at the Los Angeles Opera and after two seasons appearing with the company in various roles, Mr. Colclough joined Florida Grand Opera’s Young Artist Studio. In 2012, he became a Filene Young Artist at the Wolf Trap Opera Company. Previously, Mr. Colclough played the lead role in the comic Don Pasquale during Arizona Opera’s 2013/14 season:
“Colclough’s lascivious bluster in no way undermines his vocal gymnastics.” – Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic
David Adam Moore – Ford
Also returning to the Arizona Opera stage is baritone David Adam Moore as Ford. Last season, Mr. Moore took the stage as the lead role in the production of Eugene Onegin. Sought after on international stages, the Texas native has also joined the Teatro alla Scala for Demetrius in A Midsummer Nights Dream and Cascada in The Merry Widow after first joining the company for Maximilian in Robert Carsen’s production of Candide, which he also sang at the Théâtre du Châtelet as well as in Hyogo and Tokyo, Japan.
Karen Slack – Alice Ford
Hailed by critics for possessing a lustrous voice of extraordinary beauty and artistry of great dramatic depth American soprano Karen Slack makes her role debut as Alice Ford. She was most recently seen as both Tosca and Leonora in Il Trovatore with Arizona Opera, in Beethoven’s 9th with Alabama Symphony, and a feature on the silver screen and soundtrack in Tyler Perry’s movie For Colored
Girls as the Operatic Diva. She appeared as Serena in Porgy and Bess with both San Francisco Opera and Washington National Opera. She has sung Verdi’s Aida with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Cilla in Richard Danielpour’s Margret Garner opposite Denyce Graves with the Michigan Opera Theater, Agnes Sorel opposite Dolora Zajick in Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans with San Francisco Opera and at Carnegie Hall. In 2006 Karen stepped in to make her Metropolitan Opera and International broadcast debut in the title role of Verdi’s Luisa Miller.
The cast also includes Heather Phillips as Nanetta and Dana Beth Miller as Dame Quickly, Javier Abreu as Fenton and Alyssa Martin as Meg Page. Eric Melear makes his company debut as conductor and the performance will be directed by Chuck Hudson. Hudson teamed with Craig Colclough for the production of Arizona Opera’s Don Pasquale (April 2014) which was greatly received by critics and audiences alike.
FALSTAFF
Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Phoenix Performances
April 1 & 2, 7:30pm; April 3, 2:00pm
Symphony Hall 75 N. 2nd St., Phoenix
Tucson Performances
April 9, 7:30pm; April 10, 2:00pm
Tucson Music Hall 260 S. Church St., Tucson
Tickets: $25- $135
602-266-7464 (Phx) 520-293-4336 (Tuc)