Verdi: FalstaffFalstaff: Peter GlossopFord: Robert MassardFenton: Alain VanzoDr. Caius: Michel HamelBardolfo: Remy CorazzaPistola: Louis Hagen-WilliamAlice Ford: Eva MartonNanetta: Eliane ManchetMeg Page: Anita TerzianMistress Quickly: Oralia DominguezChorus and Orchestra of the ORTFGeorge Sebastian, conductor1974

I shouldn't have been surprised that this performance is as good as it is. Marton didn't sing Alice often, certainly not after she began tackling heavier roles, but she is a delight here. She was still able at this early point in her career to articulate the staccati, trills, and lightning quick high notes that would elude her later on. Perhaps more importantly, she exudes a sense of humor that brings the rest of the cast along with her. Glossop is a tremendously good Falstaff, honoring both Verdi's musical line and Shakespeare's incorrigible old knight. Massard is equally good as Ford; his big monologue in Act Two is a highlight of the performance. I'd only heard Manchet before as Melisande (a very different character from Nanetta). Her sweet lyric soprano is perfect for the role. She and Vanzo make a lovely couple. Andy wasn't crazy about Vanzo (see his remarks above). Perhaps he was a little mature for Fenton by this time, yet he won me over in the last scene by singing his aria with such lyrical beauty. Dominguez is a delight as Quickly and all the other roles are acted to perfection with just the right sort of voice for the character (this was a radio performance after all). I wish we knew who the funny Dr. Caius was. The sound is very good; it gets even better after the first scene (some voices initially sound a little off-mic). For those who love the opera and/or the singers!