As Giuseppe Verdi approached the end of his storied career, he turned not to tragedy but to comedy—crafting Falstaff, a buoyant, fast-moving opera drawn from The Merry Wives of Windsor. Widely regarded as one of the finest comic operas ever written, the work distills a lifetime of musical mastery into a score that sparkles with wit, warmth, and humanity.
For Pittsburgh Opera, the production carries an added layer of significance. General Director Christopher Hahn, who retires in June, has chosen Falstaff to close his tenure. The decision is both artistic and personal.
“Falstaff was in many ways the culmination of Verdi’s remarkable career,” Hahn says. “Everything he’d learned in his life went into its gorgeous music. Plus, Falstaff is a comedy, and I wanted to finish my career with a smile, which seemed much more appropriate than a murder or suicide.”
That sense of homecoming extends beyond the podium. The cast is deeply rooted in the region, underscoring Pittsburgh Opera’s long-standing ties to local artists and institutions.
Among them is Marianne Cornetti (Mistress Quickly), an internationally celebrated Verdi mezzo-soprano who now serves as Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Festival Opera and on the voice faculty at Carnegie Mellon University. Soprano Danielle Pastin (Alice Ford), a longtime Northside resident, returns after nearly two decades of performances for local audiences. Baritone Michael Chioldi, who sings the title role, brings an international reputation back to his Western Pennsylvania roots; he first appeared with the company in 2024’s La Traviata.
The creative team also reflects those local connections. Stage director Crystal Manich, who recently helmed Time to Actfor the company, grew up in Pittsburgh’s South Hills and is an alumna of both Mt. Lebanon High School and Carnegie Mellon University.
At the heart of the production is the company’s Resident Artist program—one of the defining features of Hahn’s leadership. Cornetti and Pastin are both alumni, while several current artists take on key roles: Shannon Crowley (Nannetta), Audrey Welsh (Meg Page), Logan Wagner (Fenton), and Matthew Soibelman (Pistola). Crowley, notably, was named a Grand Finals winner in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition just this week in New York.
“It was important to me to have some of my favorite singers in my final production,” Hahn says. “Some I’ve worked with for years, others I’ve met more recently, but they all are stellar and demonstrate the world-class talent Pittsburgh Opera puts on stage.”
In addition to its public performances, the company will present a special student matinee on Thursday, April 30, offering younger audiences a chance to experience Verdi’s final—and perhaps most joyful—statement.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Falstaff, Pittsburgh Opera’s final production of the season, will be performed at the Benedum Center frfom April 28th through May 3rd, 2026. For tickets, call (412) 456-6666, visit www.pittsburghopera.org, or buy in-person at the Theater Square Box Office in the Cultural District.
View the Falstaff webpage for a synopsis of the plot, and complete cast and artistic team listings .
Associated Programming:
- Pre-Opera Talks (free) – one hour before each performance’s start time
- Opening Night Toast (free) – after the Tuesday, April 28th performance, mingle and salute the cast with a congratulatory toast.
- Meet the Artists (free) – after the Friday, May 1st performance
- Falstaff Preview Show on WQED-FM 89.3 and wqed.org/fm – Saturday, April 18 at 12:30PM & Monday, April 27, at 7:00PM
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Feature Stories, Show Previews
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