In Shakespeare’s drama Sir John Falstaff, an aristocratic crook, loses his way and finds himself in Windsor – amongst hard-working citizens, who are now forced to defend everything they have worked for and have earned against Falstaff, that uninvited guest: their money, their children, their wives. Windsor’s women and children, however, have minds of their own and know very well how to help themselves.

Half a century after his first success with Nabucco, 80-year-old Giuseppe Verdi concludes his life’s work with one of world literature’s best musical comedies ever.