For the first time in 10 years, baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. will sing in Falstaff, taking on the title role in the last opera ever composed by Giuseppe Verdi , and only his second comic opera ever. 'What's really amazing about my doing Falstaff for Houston Grand Opera, is for...
When Baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role in , the last opera ever composed by Giuseppe Verdi, and only his second comic opera ever, it presents a homecoming of sorts.for Houston Grand Opera, is for my Houston Grand Opera audition on the stage the very first thing I ever did at Houston Grand Opera was Falstaff's Act 1 aria," Smith says.
Verdi's opera with libretto by Arrigo Bolto, which premiered in 1893 at La Scala, owes a lot to Shakespeare'sFalstaff is a jovial and not entirely honest fellow who has fallen on hard times with mounting debt. He decides to resolve his situation by romancing two married women at the same time to gain access to their husbands' wealth.
Smith combines his opera work with concerts and recital work."I love teaching," says the man who went to school for music education for kindergarten through 12th grade."My goal was always to be a high school choir teacher.Falstaff "The score is one of Verdi's true masterpieces," says Smith. "It is probably my mother's favorite role that I have done."is a true ensemble piece. Soprano Nicole Heaston is Alice Ford, baritone Blake Denson is Ford, soprano Andrea Carroll is Nannetta, tenor Jack Swanson is Fenton and mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cao is Mistress Quickly. Paula Suozzi directs, with Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers as conductor.
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