Masking and Unmasking in Verdi's Falstaff : (Meta)Theatrical Tour de Force in L'Opéra de Tours

Abstract

Gilles Bouillon's tour de force mise en scène of Verdi's opera Falstaff moves on the premise of ‘Tutti gabàtti!’ (‘We are all fools’), heightened by the stage presence of a large reproduction of Ensor aux masques to underscore the idea of ‘the hypocritical face behind the mask’. The director emphasised theatrical naturalism to create living space and conceptual abstraction to engender an association of ideas. Given that in Falstaff, as Verdi affirmed, the impact is on notes and words, Bouillon enabled the soloists to function simultaneously as actors. Under Bouillon's direction, Falstaff turned out as the title role should be in performance: ‘rounded but never weighty’.