Shakespeare, Boito, Verdi and the Birth of “Falstaff” – a Masterpiece of the Comic Genre Cover Image

Шекспир, Бойто, Верди и раждането на „Фалстаф“ – шедьовър в комичния жанр
Shakespeare, Boito, Verdi and the Birth of “Falstaff” – a Masterpiece of the Comic Genre

Author(s): Girgina Girginova
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Music
Published by: Издателство НМА „Проф. Панчо Владигеров”
Keywords: opera; comic opera; Arrigo Boito; Giuseppe Verdi; “Falstaff”

Summary/Abstract: I choose to treat the comic opera “Falstaff” from Giuseppe Verdi as a subject of my report, not only because of my own interest in the comic genre, but mostly because I think that this opera is a real masterpiece, and in the Year of Verdi (in 2013 we celebrate 200 years from his birth) we must pay attention to his enormous influence as a composer and his principal role as a reformer of the comic genre. “Falstaff” is a very difficult opera to interpret, not very suitable for young opera singers, and it could be considered as one of the greatest examples of the comic genre. In this report I have tried to make a connection between Shakespeare, Boito and Verdi. I have tried to explain how difficult it is to create a masterpiece, and how important it is to have a brilliant literary source – such as Shakespeare’s comedy and chronicles, very good libretto and of course, (for an opera) the gift of a genius composer, such as Verdi.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 5
  • Page Range: 238-246
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: Bulgarian