A major new operatic production is heading to Valletta next year, as Teatru Manoel and MNO team up to present Verdi’s Falstaff in an exciting, retro-inspired staging unlike anything seen locally before.
The production, running between 22nd February and 1st March 2026, welcomes an international cast led by renowned baritone Kiril Manolov, with many performers reprising their celebrated Falstaff roles from top European opera houses.
Under the creative direction of Maltese tenor and Opera Awards nominee Nico Darmanin, this Falstaff takes place not in Windsor, but in a buzzing 1960s broadcasting studio.
Inspired by director Barbara Diana, the world of the opera is reimagined through glowing ON AIR signs, whirring cameras, velvet curtains and live-television mischief – the perfect backdrop for Verdi’s whip-smart comedy.
The retro aesthetic is brought to life by designer Stewart J. Charlesworth, whose bold colours and graphic patterns turn the stage into a visual feast for the eyes, manifested by studio lights against crisp silhouettes.
The production is conducted by Federico Tibone, a rising name on Europe’s opera circuit with credits at Opéra National de Paris and Opéra de Marseille. He will lead the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, shaping Verdi’s last masterpiece with sharp comic timing and ensemble precision.
Choreographer Megan Frances completes the creative lineup, enriching the production with physical comedy and movement inspired by the era.
Falstaff follows the shameless (and cash-strapped) Sir John Falstaff, who decides to charm two married women – Alice Ford and Meg Page – in hopes of dipping into their husbands’ fortunes. His plan quickly backfires when the two friends compare notes and plot a series of elaborate pranks to teach him a lesson.
From riverside chaos to a fantastical nighttime scene in Windsor Forest, Falstaff is hilariously outsmarted at every turn until he finally admits the truth of Verdi’s famous final line: ‘Tutto nel mondo è burla’ – everything in the world is a joke.
A comic whirlwind of wit, forgiveness, and humanity, this new Falstaff promises to be one of the unmissable cultural events of 2026 – get your tickets here!