Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera / Abbado, Domingo, Ricciarelli, Royal Opera

Starring:PlÃ¡cido Domingo, Katia Ricciarelli, Reri Grist, Piero Cappuccilli
Director: John Vernon (II)
Studio: Kultur Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Description
PlÃ¡cido Domingo stars in this powerful Royal Opera House production of Verdi's great romantic opera. Domingo is memorable in the role of Gustavus, with Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House gives a superb performance of Verdi's score under the baton of conductor Claudio Abbado.

Description

Plácido Domingo stars in this powerful Royal Opera House production of Verdi's great romantic opera. Domingo is memorable in the role of Gustavus, with Katia Ricciarelli as Amelia. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House gives a superb performance of Verdi's score under the baton of conductor Claudio Abbado.

Cast - Gustavus - Plácido Domingo
Amelia - Katia Ricciarelli
Oscar - Reri Grist
Ancharstrom - Piero Cappuccilli
The Royal Opera Chorus
Chorus Master: Robin Stapleton
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House

Customer Reviews:

Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera.......2007-04-19

Oscar, Reri Grist, was simply fantastic. Her performance of Oscar was simply outstanding and a gem to watch. She is physically able to endure the jumping and singing simultaneously which is difficult and was exceptionally successful at it. Great actress with great voice as well. I wish I had a recording of her singing "Voices of Spring". Acting and singing extremely good for the entire cast and Placido Domingo? What can I say except just great. I've never seen or heard him in anything that was not exceptional. I enjoyed the other beautiful voices especially the "bad guys" plotting to kill the king.

Great production and highly recommend purchasing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Placido Domingo never disappoints.......2006-12-31

I enjoy Placido Domingo's portrayal of the title character over Pavorotti's anyday. He's a better actor by far. A good performance of this opera.

5 for cast & conducting....0 for lighting.......2004-08-27

This is a dream cast (as the other reviewers have indicated). All the voices are up to their roles, no mean feat...and this is a delicious opera. Katia Ricciarelli is an ideal Amelia with her warm creamy tones and excellent acting ability. Domingo revels in the role of Gustavo in his juicy young voice (he's about 34 here.
Ulrica is just perfect with a voice wholly up to the demands.. an exceptional Ulrica in my mind. Renato is fine...not show-stopping, but more than up to it nonetheless. Reri Grist is fine too...again, not beyond the beyond (every Oscar I have seen live or recorded has been good to very good..this must be a vocally felicitous role in general or I have been very lucky).

BUT, the lighting for much of this is non-existent. The darkness is appropriate to the libretto, but is not compatible with viewing as well as listening. Maddening. The entire 2nd act is mainly flashes of white handkerchief or collar ruff with the occasional glimpse of a face.

Good performance.......2004-06-07

Enjoyed this very much. Every one did a wonderful job, I thought. Nothing spectacular or outstanding, but really engrossing and pleasing. (It took the king about as long to die as Desdemona and Gilda! They all kept coming back to life!) I knew before but it didn't take until this show that there really are other sopranos besides Sutherland, Callas and Sills, good ones. Ricciarelli was very good, liquid and warm. Oscar I thought almost stole the show. She was wonderful, a tricky, intricate, demanding part sung with ease, reminded me of Ratti, whose performance I've cherished for years. Domingo (particularly during his curtain calls) seemed just like a very nice guy with a huge talent. Good acting all around. Was struck by everyone's calm self-assured competence during curtain calls. Old pros. Was finally struck by how much more is gotten (at least by me) from watching an opera than just listening to it on CDs. Sets were beautiful, texture of the film or color seemed a little off, but minor, subtitles left lots to the imagination. Subtitle: "I want to see my son." Amelia sings for 10 minutes, no subtitles. "You may see your son." Then her husband sings for 10 minutes, no subtitles. The subtitles were just enough to keep you conscious of what the story was, little better than a synopsis, made me a little angry eventually. If you like this music, I recommend this DVD, even, subdued, quality, good performances.

The cast in this DVD was ..........2003-05-03

After spend some time in researches , I founded a complete list of the cast on this '75 ROH production:

Amelia - Katia Ricciarelli
Gustavo III - Placido Domingo
Anckarstroem - Piero Cappuccilli
Oscar - Reri Grist
Mlle. Arvidson - Elizabeth Bainbridge
Silvano - William Elwin
Samuel - Gwynne Howell
Tom - Paul Hudson
Un giudice - Francis Egerton
Amelia's servant - John Carr
ROH Chorus and Orchestra, Claudio Abbado

Well, I believe that is a better choice than Pavarotti's DVDs. Domingo is better than him as Riccardo/Gustavo, and also Cappuccilli is a more complete singer than Nucci or Quilico. Ricciarelli sings very well, and Bainbridge makes a good job as Ulrica/Mlle. Arvidson. The page (Oscar) is a great role for Reri Grist. And Abbado's conducting in Verdi is truly a fantastic experience.
Unfortunately, the subtitles are ridiculous, but this is a minor fault.

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