(Credit: © Davide Cerati)

Conductor Daniele Rustioni will take over the musical direction of Verdi’s “Falstaff” at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia replacing conductor James Gaffigan.

In a statement, the Spanish company noted that Gaffigan was unable to conduct the run due to scheduling issues. The opera was originally scheduled for January 2021 but was postponed due to COVID-19 cases in the production team.

Rustioni will lead a cast that includes Ainhoa Arteta in the role of Alice Ford, Violeta Urmana as Mrs. Quickly, Sara Blanch in the role of Nannetta, Chiara Amarù as Mrs. Meg Page, Juan Francisco Gatell as Fenton, Jorge Rodríguez-Norton in the role of Dr. Cajus, Antonio Di Matteo as Pistola, Joel Williams as Bardolfo, and Ambrogio Maestri in the title role. Davide Luciano will replace Mattia Olivieri in the role of Ford.

Mario Martone will direct the production which is a co-production with the Staatsoper unter der Linden.

“Falstaff” is set to run between March 2 and March 14, 2021.