‘Falstaff’ by Giuseppe Verdi
Komische Oper, Berlin - 15/10/22
“Es ist unmöglich, Falstaff zu spielen, ohne Falstaff zu lieben.” (It is impossible to play Falstaff without loving him.)
In an entertaining, lively and generally well presented performance of Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’, it’s a pity that this quotation, attributed to director Barrie Kosky, should figure so centrally in the programme. For this Falstaff, though ably sung and sometimes amusingly acted by American baritone Scott Hendricks, is not particularly loveable. This is not Shakespeare (or Verdi’s) “sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant, being as he is, old Jack Falstaff”, but a self-pitying and self-centred celebrity chef, whom we meet in Act 1, carelessly throwing together a culinary concoction to little Elvis imitations, whilst sporting an open backed cook’s apron, revealing from time to time a pair of unappetising buttocks. What he was cooking remains a mystery, but we were treated to a sultry ‘food porn’ voice reciting the recipes for a sumptuous three course meal as background to scene changes.
The food theme continued when Sir John went courting Alice Ford, with Alice and Meg and a formidable Mrs Quickly preparing a feast of extravagant cakes for their amorous guest – this time kitted out in a smart suit that matched his colourful wallpaper along with a ‘Simon Rattle’ wig. The ladies had a fine time, with energetic singing from Yaritza Veliz (Alice Ford), Deniz Uzun (Meg Page) and Agnes Zwierko as Mrs Quickly. And his daughter Nannetta and her suitor Fenton were beautifully sung by Penny Sofroniadou and Caspar Singh. Thomas Lehman did a good job of Ford/Fontana, successful in his pursuit of Falstaff but in the sub-plot of his plan to marry Nannetta to the unpleasant Dr Cajus embarrassingly foiled. Falstaff got his come-uppance, as was his due. There was no tragedy in this ‘Falstaff’ – everyone (bar Dr Cajus) was allowed to laugh off the situation. And so ended the pantomime and was much applauded on that level by the audience.
