Verdi Un Ballo in Maschera

The story

This production from Covent Garden is set in Stockholm, and not Boston. With Reri Grist (Oscar), Placido Domingo (Gustavus), Katia Ricciarelli (Amelia), Piero Cappucili (Renato), Patricia Payne (? - the booklet or DVD fails to credit the singer) (Ulrica) and Claudio Abbado in the pit: all at their peak, you just simply cannot go wrong when purchasing this DVD. This performance made me realise why I had fallen in love with opera: beautiful (today one should be thankful) and convincing sets and costumes, and fiery conducting and singing from all the above soloists which leaves you breathless. Domingo as the King (not the Governor of Boston) is simply ravishing! He is so convincing and dashing as Gustavus - I think very few tenors nowadays can even attempt such a convincing vocal and dramatic performance.

Cast & crew

Plácido DomingoGustavo III

Katia RicciarelliAmelia

Piero CappuccilliAnckarstroem

Reri GristOscar

Patricia Payne

Patricia PayneUlrica

Elizabeth Bainbridge

Elizabeth BainbridgeMlle. Arvidson

William Elwin

William ElwinSilvano

Gwynne Howell

Gwynne HowellSamuel

Paul Hudson

Paul HudsonTom

Francis EgertonUn giudice

John Carr

John CarrAmelia's servant

Claudio AbbadoSelf - Conductor