The Graham Vicks production of FALSTAFF opened the new Covent Garden Royal Opera House, and was not to everybody's taste; the garish primary colours of the costumes. The staging is effective--the complicated counterpoint of the ensembles is reflected in unobtrusive blocking that keeps the vocal lines clear and separate, especially in the final fugue. Bryn Terfel's Falstaff is a memorable creation, self-mocking and self-aggrandising at the same time--so much so, in fact, that he almost does not need the vast prosthetic body he has to wear for the part. Desiree Rancatore is an admirably sweet-toned Nanetta; Bernadette Manca di Nissa an appropriately sardonic Mistress Quickly; Roberto Frontali as Ford, in his Act 2 scena, perfectly distils and parodies every jealousy aria ever written, including Verdi's own. Haitink's conducting is exemplary in the lyrical passages, gets almost everything out of the fast and furious comic sections.

2013年萨尔茨堡音乐节期间，主办方推出创意独特的制作，在萨尔茨堡莫扎特机场，红牛机库展示厅内，上演实景版本的歌剧——莫扎特《后宫诱逃》，苏丹王成为现代企业老板，而后宫佳丽则是大财团下辖的模特走秀公司。一对情侣最终乘坐直升飞机，逃离机库。