METROPOLITAN OPERA BROADCASTS: FALSTAFF, PT. 2
(RADIO)
Summary
Continued from R:3133. Part two of two. One in this
series of performances by the Metropolitan Opera. This
program features a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's final
opera, "Falstaff." This part begins with the second
intermission, "Texaco's Opera Quiz," with quizmaster
Edward Downes and various guests. Act III opens on a
square outside the Garter Inn, where Falstaff
indignantly renounces the vile world in which noblemen
like himself can be tossed into a river. Mrs. Quickly
brings him a message from Alice, who claims she is
innocent and is in despair over what has happened. She
has sent a letter begging him to meet her that night in
Windsor Park disguised as the Black Huntsman, who,
according to legend, hung himself there and whose spirit
now inhabits the park. Falstaff once again falls for
the trick, and invites Mrs. Quickly into the inn so they
can talk more privately. Alice and the rest plan to act
as nymphs and spirits to torment Falstaff in the
allegedly haunted park. In Scene II, everyone arrives
in Windsor Park and dons their disguises, and Falstaff
approaches at the stroke of midnight. He tries to seize
Alice Ford when Meg cries out that demons are
approaching. Alice pretends to be afraid and flees,
leaving Falstaff alone. The masquerade to torture
Falstaff begins, as Nannetta (now the Queen of the
Fairies) sings "Sul fil d'un soffio etesio..." ("He
wails in fright.") To Falstaff's amazement, Bardolph's
hood slips off, disclosing the "goblin's" true identity.
However, Falstaff quickly sees humor in the prank when
Ford's marriage plan backfires and Nannetta is wedded to
Fenton. In the end, everyone laughs as Falstaff sings
the famous line, "He who laughs last, laughs best!"
(Network affiliation varies; as above, 1960 to the
present; NBC, 1931-1943; Blue Network, 1943-1945;
ABC, 1945-1958; CBS, 1958-1960.)
Details
- NETWORK: Syndicated
- DATE: March 21, 1964 2:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:00
- COLOR/B&W: N/A
- CATALOG ID: R:3135
- GENRE: Radio - Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Operas
- SERIES RUN: Syndicated - Radio series, 1960-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Giuseppe Verdi … Composer
- Leonard Bernstein … Conductor
- Kurt Adler … Choral Director, Chorus Master
- Metropolitan Opera Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Franco Zeffirelli … Direction (Misc.), Stage Manager
- Milton Cross … Announcer
- Anselmo Colzani … Cast, Sir John Falstaff, Singer
- Mario Sereni … Cast, Ford, Singer
- Luigi Alva … Cast, Fenton, Singer
- Mariano Caruso … Cast, Dr. Cajus, Singer
- Gabriella Tucci … Cast, Mrs. Alice Ford, Singer
- Judith Raskin … Cast, Nannetta, Singer
- Regina Resnik … Cast, Mrs. Quickly, Singer
- Rosalind Elias … Cast, Mrs. Meg Page, Singer
- Andrea Velis … Cast, Bardolph, Singer
- Norman Scott … Cast, Pistola, Singer