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Old, large and lecherous, Sir John Falstaff can't resist the ladies. But they can resist him, and three of them plot to put an end to his advances once and for all. After being tossed in a laundry basket and tipped into the Thames, Falstaff is feeling distinctly sorry for himself. But when the plot is revealed, Falstaff accepts the mockery with stoical dignity. After all, as the opera concludes, 'Tutto nel mondo e burla' - all the world's a joke. Due to the lockdown announced for England, it is with sadness that we must cancel all scheduled performances of Falstaff and Ariodante for live audiences. Due to the smaller artistic forces required, we are pleased to be able to perform Ariodante as a live-stream concert. We would like to thank all our Friends, patrons and audiences for their ongoing support during this challenging time. Giuseppe Verdi's masterful last opera tells the tale of a portly knight with an irrepressible appetite for life, love and laughter. A score full of quicksilver switches in mood and tempo matches the sprightliness of a spirited libretto based on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor and Henry IV plays. This unmissable operatic treat unites world-leading singers – including bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, soprano Rebecca Evans and baritone Simon Keenleyside – with The Royal Opera's Music Director Antonio Pappano, who conducts the Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and a cast that includes members of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme in a celebratory in-concert atmosphere.