Teatru Manoel and MNO announce a bold new staging of Verdi's Falstaff, returning to Malta with a world-class international cast, many of whom are reprising their celebrated Falstaff roles from some of the world's finest stages.
Under the creative direction of Maltese tenor and Opera Awards nominee Nico Darmanin, MNO together with Teatru Manoel begins a new chapter of international partnership and artistic ambition, bringing Maltese audiences classical works that reflect the highest operatic standards and a bold, contemporary vision for the future.
This new production is set inside a buzzing 1960s broadcasting studio, inspired by director Barbara Diana, where Falstaff explodes with colour, comedy, and the fast-paced mischief of live television. Verdi's final masterpiece finds new life in this world of glowing ON AIR signs, studio cameras, velvet drapes and backstage chaos... a setting that amplifies the opera's humour, timing, and exuberant energy.
The production is conducted by Federico Tibone, a rising force on the European opera circuit whose work spans Opéra National de Paris and the Opéra de Marseille, bringing incisive musical leadership and a refined understanding of Verdi's comic timing and ensemble brilliance. He will lead the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra in this new Falstaff.
The set and costume design, created by Stewart J. Charlesworth, is a major visual centrepiece of the production. Inspired by the bold palette and graphic style of the 1960s, Charlesworth's world is charged with comic flair, saturated studio lighting, rhythmic pops of colour, and sharply drawn silhouettes that mirror the pace and wit of Verdi's score, enriching the lively, character-driven comedy that unfolds on stage.
A New Chapter for Opera in Malta
This collaboration between MNO and Teatru Manoel signals a shift in Malta's operatic landscape, towards productions built on international casting, contemporary theatricality and an expanded sense of artistic ambition on the national stage.
With its riotous 1960s world and exceptional creative team, Falstaff marks the beginning of a more outward-looking approach to opera in Malta: one defined by artistic excellence, scale and a renewed connection to the wider European operatic conversation.
About the Production
This Falstaff transports audiences to the frenetic world of a 1960s television studio, a place where vanity, ambition, gossip, and desire unfold under unforgiving studio lights. As Falstaff's audacious schemes collapse around him, the women of Windsor take control in a brilliantly timed comic revenge.
Performance dates: 22 February - 1 March 2026
Venue: Teatru Manoel, Valletta
Creative Team:
● Conductor: Federico Tibone
● Director: Barbara Diana
● Set & Costume Designer: Stewart J. Charlesworth
● Choreographer: Megan Frances
● Orchestra: Malta Philharmonic Orchestra
Synopsis
Sir John Falstaff, short on money and long on ego, devises a plan to woo two married women Alice Ford and Meg Page in hopes of gaining access to their husbands' wealth. But Falstaff misfires, unaware of the ladies close friendship, he sends the same love letter to both women.
When the ladies compare notes, they decide to turn the tables. Their elaborate pranks leave Falstaff humiliated, dunked in the Thames, and thoroughly outwitted, all while the jealous Ford plots his own counter-schemes.
Everything culminates in Windsor Forest, where Falstaff is confronted by villagers disguised as fairies, spirits, and monsters. Terrified into submission, he finally recognises the absurdity of his own vanity. The opera closes with one of Verdi's most famous lines:
"Tutto nel mondo è burla" - everything in the world is a joke!
A triumphant celebration of comedy, forgiveness, and the joy of being human.
Press Enquiries:
For interview requests or exclusive media arrangements, please contact:
Teatru Manoel: Ms Maria Francalanza
Email: [email protected]
MNO: Ms Megan King
Email: [email protected]
Full cast announcement and creative bios will be released shortly.