I have seldom encountered so wholly satisfactory a traversal of Verdi’s closing masterpiece, one that fulfils all one’s wishes on both dramatic and musical grounds, as this 1987 staging at Aix. Eschewing a modern interpretation, director Lluis Pasqual goes to the heart of the matter in sets by Fabia Puigserver that are at once minimalist yet highly evocative in terms of milieu, and happily coloured by sepia tints, subtly lit. Within them, Pasqual directs his principals with an eye for natural yet cleverly pointed movement.

He is lucky to have José Van Dam, at the height of his powers in 1987. This Fat Knight is wholly believable as a mature lover and true knight, one who never plays the fool, and – with his clear enunciation of Boïto’s text – presents the character as a credible figure devoid of all the byplay that so disfigures Bryn Terfel’s performance on Bernard Haitink’s Royal Opera version. At every point, Van Dam allows his Falstaff to arise from the text and the music, which – not to forget – he sings with firm and well-moulded tone.

He is surrounded by a cast on a similar level of achievement, headed by Barbara Madra’s lively, quick-witted, beautifully sung Alice. Benedetta Pecchioli makes more of Meg than most mezzos and also looks her part. Livia Budai is a witty, pert Quickly who sings the role rather than mugging it. William Stone projects Ford’s jealousy convincingly on a flood of strong, firm tone. Mario Luperi is a nicely lugubrious Pistol, Ugo Benelli a characterful Dr Caius. The lovers may not be the most fluent I have ever heard, but they are worthy members of a distinguished ensemble.

Cambreling conducts a straightforward, scrupulously prepared account of the matchless score with the orchestra of La Monnaie in Brussels, where the production originated. The autumnal colours mean that sometimes the facial expressions aren’t as clear as they might be, but by and large the video direction is excellent, as is the sound. Much as I admire Riccardo Muti’s version, it suffers a little from the rather restricting confines of the small theatre at Busseto. This version would now be my DVD recommendation.