Opera presents 'Falstaff'
Although Frederick Burchinal has appeared as Falstaff in the Verdi opera of the same name for more than two decades - "from Oslo to Brazil" - the veteran baritone doesn't consider the lusty character to be his signature role.
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"I've done many Verdi operas in my career, and I like all of his principal roles," says Burchinal, a professor of voice at the University of Georgia and a principal artist with the Metropolitan Opera for more than 20 years. "My Metropolitan Opera debut was as Macbeth, and I've also done Rigoletto and Simon Boccanegra. Verdi always created demanding characters, and it's always a challenge. But if I had to pick a signature role, it would be Rigoletto."
However, Burchinal has a great affection for Falstaff, whom he'll portray tonight when Athena Opera UGA Opera Ensemble presents Verdi's "Falstaff" at Hodgson Concert Hall in the UGA Performing Arts Center. " 'Falstaff' is a comedic tour-de-force," says Burchinal, who joined UGA's Hodgson School of Music faculty in 2006 and logged more than 130 performances at the Met in 20 different productions. "He's a character that's bigger than life - pun intended. He's able to do the things we'd all like to do - he's a glutton, he drinks too much, and he likes the ladies a little too much."
One of the few comic operas penned by the prolific Verdi, "Falstaff" is based on sections of two Shakespeare plays, "Henry IV" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor." Athena Opera's presentation of "Falstaff" showcases the talents of UGA faculty, along with students enrolled in the opera ensemble and select professional vocalists.
"When necessary, we bring in professionals
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