Falstaff

Simon will sing the role of Ford in three performances of Falstaff at the Staatsoper Hamburg in April 2025.

SOUNDBITES

"This Falstaff might be appearing as part of the Hamburg Staatsoper’s ‘Italian Opera Weeks’, but it might also have had a ‘Best of British’ label slapped on it when you consider who was involved. Christopher Purves, Sir Simon Keenlyside, Danielle de Niese (surely, as the chatelaine of Glyndebourne, an honorary Brit) and Olivia Warburton all sounded great on the stage, while Finnegan Downie Dear showed the surest of batons in the pit. And how appropriate to have them all there for this most British of European operas....

The only problem with having Simon Keenlyside as Ford is that he very nearly upstages Purves in their Act II scene, so punchy and energetic is his singing, culminating in a terrific jealousy aria..."

"Simon Keenlyside setzte seinen herrlich markant ansprechenden Bariton als Ford effektvoll ein, seine Raserei in der Eifesuchtsarie als verkleideter Fontana fuhr gewaltig ein. "

"Simon Keenlyside used his wonderfully distinctive baritone to great effect as Ford, and his fury in the jealousy aria as a disguised Fontana was a powerful hit."

" ... Wie Purves seine Rolle angelegt hat, das funktioniert besonders gut, weil er mit Simon Keenlyside einen herrlich nachtragenden Gegenspieler hat. Keenlyside ist ebenfalls Brite und Bariton. Und gab den Ford als souveränen Strippenzieher. Der weiß, dass sein Plan aufgehen wird.

Auch bei Keenlyside stand der Spaß im Vordergrund, die Rolle zu gestalten. Eine gescheite  Krafteinteilung half, stimmlich bestens über die Runden zu kommen und alle Facetten seiner Rachsucht und Schadenfreude betörend in Klangfarben umzusetzen. Keenlyside wird zuvörderst mit Mozart assoziiert, kann aber auch Verdi."

" ... The way Purves has created his role works particularly well because he has a wonderfully vindictive counterpart in Simon Keenlyside. Keenlyside is also British and a baritone. And played Ford as a confident string-puller. He knows that his plan will work.

Keenlyside also had fun creating the role. A clever use of power helped him to get by vocally in the best possible way and to translate all facets of his vengefulness and malicious glee into beguiling timbres. Keenlyside is first and foremost associated with Mozart, but is also capable of Verdi."