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Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Giuseppe Verdi composed 28 operas in his long career. His first was Oberto in 1840 when he was 26 and his last was Falstaff in 1893 when he was 80. What’s so amazing about Falstaff is not just that he was 80 when he completed it but that it is a comedy after a career of mostly tragic melodramas. At no point in Falstaff does Verdi betray his age. 
Based upon Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff contains some of the lightest, sunniest and most amusing music ever written for an opera.

Opera Preview: Amelia

Amelia, Seattle Opera's first world premiere opera in more than three decades, is a result of a collaboration between Daron Aric Hagen (music) and Gardner McFall (libretto) and is based on an original story by Seattle favorite, Stephen Wadsworth.

Amelia unfolds over a 30 year span, beginning with the American experience in Vietnam. The title character, a new mother living in the 90s, moves from preoccupation with wounds from the past to embracing her life and the creative force of love and family. This new opera promises a rich emotional journey for any audience, but especially for American audiences. This lecture will presented by veteran lecturer, Norm Hollingshead, who will illustrate his commentary with musical excerpts.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Libraries.