GENEVA — Geneva Light Opera is presenting three fully staged performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s comic opera “Falstaff,” which is based on Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor,” later this month.

The performances are scheduled for July 24 at 7:30 p.m., and July 26 and 27 at 3 p.m., at Smith Opera House.

Well-known conductor Christian Capocaccia leads a large assembly of professional singers and orchestral players — and includes singers and dancers from St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy, costumes, historic Italian backdrops, and projected English supertitles.

The cast, which arrived in Geneva Monday to being rehearsing, is headed by American baritone Robert Mellon in the title role of the rogue knight, Sir John Falstaff — old, shamelessly overweight, continually short of money to support his lifestyle, but ever ready to face the world with his unfailing wit and astute observations. (Mellon’s singing of the rogue knight’s “honor aria” won him the St. Louis Theater Circle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera.)

In the secondary role of Mr. Ford is prize-winning baritone Bryan Murray, who steps up as the well-to-do citizen determined to protect the integrity of his home and spouse, acclaimed dramatic coloratura soprano Alexis Olinyk, from noble misintentions. She and her band of “merry wives” ingeniously dismantle the disreputable knight’s efforts to win their favor —and tenor Felix Aguilar charms with declarations of love for the Ford’s daughter, soprano Natalia Hulse.

These Shakespearean high-jinks (miraculously translated into Italian by librettist Arrigo Boito) also feature mezzo sopranos Gabrielle Barkidjija and Milica Nikcevic, tenors Gabriel Hernandez and Moses Park, and bass-baritone Nicholas Kilkenny.

“Falstaff” is the work of two towering geniuses from two different lands and eras: England’s playwright William Shakespeare in the 16th century and Italy’s opera composer Giuseppe Verdi three centuries later.

With Capocaccia at the helm and staging by seasoned Shakespearean director Steve Vaughan, these July performances — in an 1894 opera house that opened in upstate New York one year after Verdi’s “Falstaff” premiered in Italy — are not to be missed.

Tickets, which are available at www.genevalightopera.org or at the door, cost $20, $40, $100 or $150 for premium reserved seats.

Email info@genevalightopera.org for more information.