Work Samples

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Excerpts from Verdi's Falstaff

May 12 & 14, 2017 at the Charity Randall Theatre

Resonance Works brought its fourth season to a rousing conclusion with the wit and genius of Verdi’s Falstaff.  Written at the age of 80, Verdi’s final opus sparkles with freshness and originality. The story follows the travails Shakespeare’s Sir John Falstaff, a portly, aging knight who has come upon hard times. Ever the optimist, he endeavors to improve his stature by seducing married women away from their husbands (which doesn't turn out quite as he'd imagined…) Mistaken identities, thwarted assignations, hapless misadventures, fairies, disguises, and a wedding -- these all combine to form a delightful comic farce that is a tour de force for a stellar ensemble cast.​​

Falstaff was presented with the generous support of The Heinz Endowments

The video below includes excerpts from:

  • the opening scene, where Dr. Caius accuses Falstaff and his cronies of robbing him 

  • Act 2, scene 1, where Mistress Quickly informs Falstaff that BOTH Alice Ford and Meg Page are madly in love with him

  • Act 2, scene 2 - Ford’s aria, where Ford erupts in a jealous rage after learning that Falstaff already had a rendezvous arranged with his wife for that afternoon

  • The famous final fugue (in its entirety) “tutto nel mondo e burla” (“All the world is folly”) ​​

Audience Feedback:

“I'm blown away by the quality of the singing, playing, and staging.”

"Inventive Production! Ford was fabulous. Great ensemble work"

"Loved seeing opera in a small venue"

 

Praise for FALSTAFF from Pittsburgh in the Round: 

​"Vocally, the cast is one of uniform excellence…”

Benjamin Bloomfield "possesses a baritone voice capable of great power, but finesse and subtle nuances are at his command as well" ... Joshua Jeremiah "is commanding and quite agreeable to the eye"... Natalie Polito "is captivating"... Amelia D'Arcy "gave a sterling performance. Her ringing soprano, lively acting, and facial expressions were positively delightful"... Kara Cornell "seemed to “live” her role, as she always does, and was another highlight of the evening" ... Brooke Larimer "displayed a richly hued voice and nicely timed comedic ability" ... Ben Robinson's "acrobatic acting of the part were fun additions to an impressive vocal performance. His antics with Matt Scollin, the reliable, versatile and powerfully voiced bass-baritone, as Pistola, were among the most entertaining highlights of the evening." ... Chris Lucier & Joseph Gaines "were talented additions to the large cast" ...

"This operatic endeavor on the part of Resonance Works most decidedly deserves capacity patronage...Take Mom, a friend, anybody – to a musical treat that they’re not likely to forget any time soon."

-- G.Parous, Pittsburgh in the Round