Verdi: Falstaff

Falstaff, Verdi’s final opera, is a life-affirming comedy with a philosophical streak. Its score – sophisticated, but unfailingly captivating – is interpreted with the utmost subtlety and charm by Herbert von Karajan. With the inimitable Tito Gobbi as the roguish Sir John Falstaff and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf leading the Merry Wives of Windsor, this recording remains unrivalled in capturing the wit and generosity of both Shakespeare and Verdi.