James Conlon conducts the comic masterpiece, starring Craig Colclough in the title role

(Los Angeles) March 16, 2026 — LA Opera's 40th Anniversary Season continues with a revival of Giuseppe Verdi's final masterpiece, Falstaff, conducted by Music Director James Conlon and starring bass-baritone Craig Colclough in the title role. There will be six performances from April 18 through May 10, 2026.

Based on Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff was the final opera and crowning achievement of Giuseppe Verdi, the greatest of Italian opera composers. It premiered in 1893 when the composer was 79 years old, more than five decades after his only other comic opera, Un giorno di regno.

"A peerless comic masterpiece, Falstaff is a particular favorite of James Conlon, which makes this revival of our delightful 2013 production a fitting way to celebrate James during his final season as our beloved Music Director,” said Christopher Koelsch, LA Opera’s President and CEO. “It's one of ten Verdi operas James has conducted with distinction during his two decades with the company. The superb ensemble cast is led by our longtime friend Craig Colclough as Falstaff, his signature role."

About Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff, an aging, wealthy knight with appetites for indulgence and influence, attempts to seduce two married women—Alice Ford and Meg Page—to better his finances. The women discover his scheme (and realize they have both received identical love letters). Together with their allies, they set up elaborate deceptions and pranks to humiliate their would-be suitor. Falstaff is subsequently outwitted in comedic fashion—through disguises, jealous husbands, mistaken identities, and farcical situations. In the end, despite the mockery, there is reconciliation, and the work closes with festive ensemble music celebrating human folly, forgiveness, and humor

Meet the Cast
The title role will be performed by Craig Colclough, a bass-baritone who began his career with the company, rising from supporting parts to leading roles including, most recently, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, Leporello in Don Giovanni, and Capulet in Roméo et Juliette.

The cast includes several additional returning company favorites, including soprano Nicole Heaston as Alice Ford and mezzo-soprano Hyona Kim as Mistress Quickly, along with two alumni of our Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, tenor Anthony León as Fenton and mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino as Meg Page. Baritone Ernesto Petti and soprano Deanna Breiwick will make their company debuts as Ford and Nannetta, respectively. Three current members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program—tenors Nathan Bowles and Yuntong Han and bass Vinícius Costa—complete the cast as Dr. Caius, Bardolph and Pistol.

The Creative Team
Falstaff will be conducted by James Conlon, who is currently in his 20th and final season with the company as Music Director before taking on the new role of Conductor Laureate. He will lead a revival of the company's 2013 production originally created by the late Lee Blakeley, with sets and costumes designed by Adrian Linford. This season's revival will be staged by Shawna Lucey. The lighting designer is Pablo Santiago and the chorus director is Jeremy Frank.

Click here to download production photos and artist headshots.

Performance Dates, Times and Address
There will be six performances of Falstaff presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, located at 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012:

• Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 2pm
• Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 7:30pm
• Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:30pm
• Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 2pm

Tickets
Tickets begin at $33.50 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at LAOpera.org, by phone at 213.972.8001, or in person at the LA Opera box office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012). For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email LAOpera@LAOpera.org.

More information about the production is available at LAOpera.org/Falstaff.

About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies.

In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the company explores unusual repertoire each season through the LA Opera Off Grand initiative, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The LA Opera Connects initiative offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings that reach people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County. Learn more at LAOpera.org.

LA Opera Media Contact
Marlene Meraz
Director of Communications
mmeraz@laopera.org
213.972.7554

Production made possible by generous support from
GRoW @ Annenberg
Andrea Pessino
Tarasenka Pankiv Fund (Tara Colburn)
Barbara Augusta Teichert
The Emanuel Treitel Senior Citizen Fund

With special additional support from
Laura and Carlton Seaver

With special appreciation to
Régina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten

LA Opera Orchestra generously underwritten by
Terri and Jerry Kohl

LA Opera is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.