Verdi: Falstaff DVD – Giuseppe Taddei, Anna Maria Canali

This 1956 Falstaff from Radiotelevisione Italiana is one of the finest of the many studio productions that RAI presented in the 1950s. In addition to the presence of the legendary maestro Tullio Serafin there is the elegant physical production and brilliant staging by the renowned opera director Herbert Graf. the top-notch cast includes a number of singers particularly associated with this opera. Anna Moffo scored many of her early successes as Nannetta often opposite Luigi Alva’s Fenton. Just a month after appearing in this production the two joined the cast of the studio recording of Falstaff under Karajan also featuring Fedora Barbieri as Mrs Quickly. Giuseppe Taddei Rosanna Carteri and Anna Maria Canali had also taken part in a 1949 Cetra recording of the opera. Taddei Rosanna Carteri and Anna Maria Canali had also taken part in a 1949 Cetra recording of the opera. Taddei who made a specialty of the title role began his long career in the mid-1930s.