Verdi: Un ballo in maschera (Live)
Show recording detailsC210062
Release Date: April 2021
Originally recorded in 2020
Classical
Opera
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About
Initially composed for the 1857-58 Carnival Season at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples, this opera about the murderer of Swedish King Gustav III was rejected by Neapolitan censors, and so were its revisions. The premiere performance of Un ballo in maschera took place only on 17 Feb 1859 at the Teatro Apollo in Rome – and also only after revisions enforced by the pontifical censors: first and foremost, the setting was transferred from Sweden to colonial North America, and not a king, but Riccardo, the governor of Boston, was to be the murder victim. Despite these changes, the melodrama was very well received by the audience, and up until today Un ballo in maschera is one of Verdi’s most popular stage works. Like most modern performances, this recording is based on the Swedish version of the opera. Its first performance at the Vienna Opera House on the Ring was given in 1870 (exactly one year after the opening), and has since enjoyed well over 500 performances in this house. The star-studded cast includes Pjotr Beczala as Gustav III, Dmitry Hvorostovky as Renato and Krassimira Stoyanova as Emilia, Nadja Krasteva, Hila Fahima, Alexandru Moisiuc, Sorin Coliban, Igor Onishchenko and Thomas Ebenstein, peforming under the baton of Jesús López Cobos. Live recording April 2016.
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Reviews
“… Hvorostovsky is on very good form, his performance exhibiting fine control and stylistic expertise, with a wide range of colour and dynamics as well as plenty of power… López Cobos brings a fresh, fluent and lyrical approach to his idiomatic account of the score. He notes Verdi’s many accents and maintains a flexible and intimate connection to the singers. Overall, there’s a keen sense of momentum and a good deal of delicacy – a great combination… As one might expect, the orchestra demonstrates skill and subtlety … while the chorus is musically all present and correct as well as dramatically fully engaged…”
Opera category - Nominee
**** (Excellent Album)
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