This morning, expanding on the study on Verdi and some more specifically on Falstaff.
Found this summary of Verdi’s essential works. Very useful with Youtube links.
Best Verdi Works: 10 Essential Pieces By The Great Composer
La Forza Del Destino
Aida
Don Carlos
Falstaff
Il Trovatore
La Traviata
Otello
Rigoletto
Un Ballo In Maschera
Messa Da Requiem
For me to listen to, Falstaff recording with Claudio Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADn3CtCPh0Q&t=39s
At nearly 76 years old, Verdi loved the libretto on Sir John Falstaff, written by Boito. Verdi originally wrote to Boito how he was too old to write another large scale opera, but eventually decided to write the piece. Took him four years to complete. Boito’s libretto for Falstaff is undoubtedly his finest work, and among the finest libretti ever written. Boito was odd, and frankly terrified of editing, altering, and adapting the play, by the man, Shakespeare, on an Italian opera stage. Verdi complained how he was not able to write productively as he once did when he was younger.