Falstaff from Liege Cine-opera

25th November: Yelmo cinema in Plaza Mayor played Falstaff from Liege in HD via live satellite. The Opéra Royal de Wallonie is rebuilding its main house over the next three years and has set up camp in a luxurious tent. The inaugural production was Falstaff with the 68 year old Ruggero Raimondi in the title role, Paola Arravabeni as conductor and Stefano Poda as director. Arravabeni (or at least the top of his head) was on screen throughout as the new venue does not have a conventional pit. The cine projection was fine apart from a few satellite signal glitches and the curious reversion to German subtitles at the beginning of Act 3. But it was the production that left me scratching my head. Has Poda seen a religious theme in Falstaff?. Act 1 saw men in pointed hats a la Klu Klux Klan or, more likely, Andalucian Easter processionals. Act 3 had nuns in wimples and Herne's Oak beacame a Christian cross- seemingly burning. Falstaff's page had angel wings. I could go on. Costumes were black or white. Mistresses Page, Ford and Quickly were in evening gowns with elaborate hats. Add to that Brechtian style banners spelling out the theme of several scenes, and words projected on the backdrop in case we still did not get the message. Best forgotten. Raimondi did well, but at 68 remains too slim for Falstaff.