

To listen simply press on the audio player below
(you can also download the file –
click on the three dots on the right):
Nicolai: Merry Wives of Windsor
Sung in English
Act 1 • Act 2 • Act 3
Vaughan Williams: Sir John in Love
Verdi: Falstaff
Act 1 • Act 2 • Act 3
English libretto
(I’m afraid it smacks of a Google translate job,
but you’ll get the gist!)
0.00 Falstaff and Prince Henry •
3:13 Eastcheap – Gadshill – The Boar’s Head. Revelry and sleep •
16:25 Dream Interlude: ‘Jack Falstaff, now Sir John, a boy,
and page to Thomas Mowbray,
Duke of Norfolk’ (Poco allegretto) •
18:55 Falstaff’s march – The return through Gloucestershire •
23:13 Interlude: Gloucestershire. Shallow’s orchard (Allegretto) –
The new king – The hurried ride to London •
26:07 King Henry V’s progress –
The repudiation of Falstaff, and his death
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It’s all very jolly, isn’t it!
Falstaff was another great role for WNO’s Donald Maxwell. He was a brilliant comic actor-singer – still is, for all I know. Fascinating to hear Nikolai, V-W and Elgar alongside Verdi, and by no means outclassed.
Amazing to hear the different interpretations. I had never heard of Nicolai.Quite delightful.