Steve Schwartz wrote:

>I can think of a couple more: Vaughan Williams's Sir John in Love (MUCH
>finer than Verdi's Falstaff)

I came to a real appreciation for Verdi rather late, but to this day I have
yet to attend a live performance of his *Falstaff*, and I've attended several,
that I didn't find tedious.  On the other hand, I've found my recordings of
same, when I followed them w/ the libretto (Karajan on CD, Toscanini on LP),
positively delightful.  I don't know whether it's the performances or that
for me, the opera is better listened to on recordings than watched live.

Walter Meyer