When writing his final opera at age 79, renowned Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi turned for inspiration to Shakespeare's play "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The result of that marriage of comedy and music, "Falstaff," will be performed by the Yale Opera at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 11, as part of the Shubert New Haven's Opera Series. Matthew Lata is the stage director for the production, which will feature music by the Yale Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Anton Coppola. The opera follows the comic adventures of Sir John Falstaff, an irrepressible reprobate who is found at the beginning of the play lecturing two accused thieves, not for stealing, but for their lack of style. Falstaff, who is in dire financial straits, sends identical love letters to two Windsor wives in the hope of seducing them. The two women easily see through Falstaff's scheme, and resolve to teach him a lesson. Meanwhile, their husbands learn of Falstaff's intentions and plot their vengeance against him. After a series of comic misadventures, Falstaff receives his comeuppance at the hands of the combined company, after which all join in a final chorus of "All the world's a jest." All the roles in "Falstaff" will be performed by students in the School of Music's opera program, which is overseen by artistic director Doris Yarick Cross. The opera will be sung in Italian with English "supertitles." One of America's most versatile and sought-after stage directors, Lata has presented acclaimed productions throughout the country. He received international recognition for Hugo Weisgall's "Six Characters in Search of an Author" at the Chicago Lyric's Center for American Artists, and last spring he debuted at the JFK Center with "Don Giovanni" at The Washington Opera. His work this season includes a new "L'Italiana in Algeri" for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, "Un Ballo in Maschera" in Honolulu, "Lucia" in Cleveland and Gianni's "Schicchi/I Pagliacci" in Anchorage. Lata is also a noted educator, serving as director of opera at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He will be directing at Yale next spring. Coppola has conducted almost all of the major opera companies in the United States and Canada, including the former Shubert Opera. Known for his range and versatility, Coppola has conducted the world premieres of "Lizzie Borden," "Deseret" and "Of Mice and Men," as well as many Broadway musicals. He was conductor and opera consultant for "Godfather III," a film by his nephew, Francis Ford Coppola, as well as the Coppola film "Bram Stoker's Dracula." He is currently composing an opera titled "Sacco and Vanzetti," which is based on the famous criminal trial of the 1920s. For 15 years, Coppola was director of both the symphony and opera departments at the Manhattan School of Music. Ticket prices for "Falstaff" range from $16 to $32. To order, call Advantix at 1-800-288-6622 or visit the Shubert box office at 247 College St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. The School of Music is not selling tickets to the production. T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S '339 Yale homebuyers -- and counting! A house becomes a home on Bristol Street 'Private Censorship and Perfect Choice' Special events pay tribute to Native American culture A Conversation With a Peace Maker Improving health of minorities is top priority, Satcher says The Surgeon General speaks out on some tough issues Yale Opera to present Verdi's adaptation of Shakespearean comedy Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke to talk at Divinity School Graphic! British Prints Now' celebrates state of the art of British printmaking 'Film Fest New Haven to pay tribute to Yale animator Renowned artists to take part in panel and symposium at Yale Art Gallery Scholars will share perspectives on issues in South Asia in series of events Museum hosts recreation of 'Dances for a Building' Visiting philosopher to present talk Venclova is honored by the Lithuanian government Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events| Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases|E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page

 School of Music professor Richard Cross (seated) coaches James Creswell and Patrick Carfizzi, the two Yale Opera students who will sing the title role in Verdi's "Falstaff," which will be presented April 9-11 as part of Shubert New Haven's Opera Series.