The Merry Wives of Windsor

By Otto Nicolai

HARDY FOOL

Although the 1849 premiere of Nicolai’s interpretation of Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor was canceled after only four performances, it garnered increasing popularity after his death and eventually became known as his masterpiece.

This brilliant comic romp is faithful to the Bard’s story while set to fabulous music.

Sir John Falstaff, a notoriously drunk and womanizing has-been knight, tries to court two married women for his financial advantage. Mistress Ford and Mistress Page decide to teach the old sot a lesson, and he is the victim of a series of pranks, first by them, and then by the whole town, until he finally sees the light.