Tutto Verdi – Un ballo in maschera
Francesco Meli; Vladimir Stoyanov;
Kristin Lewis; Elisabetta Fiorillo;
Serena Gamberoni; Teatro Regio di Parma; Gianluigi Gelmetti
Cmajor 724208
By age 46 the world famous Verdi had many triumphs behind him, but all was not smooth sailing. His opera on the subject of regicide was strenuously objected to by the Neapolitan censors and he simply cancelled in disgust. Verdi was taken to court, but went to Rome instead; changed the setting and the protagonist to a mere Governor in remote colonial North America and thus the opera, Un ballo in maschera was premiered and succeeded.
This is a wonderful performance, one of the finest in this Tutto Verdi series of the complete operas. Conductor Gianluigi Gelmetti is an unlikely looking gentleman at first glance but at his first wave of the baton one realizes he is a master. His upbeat tempi have a big sweep that gives the opera the brilliance Verdi intended. The tenor, Francesco Meli (Riccardo), is a young fresh voice, powerful and sensitive; the baritone, Vladimir Stoyanov is beginning to take over from the venerable Nucci in the series. His voice is powerful, well shaded, his acting puts a menace into his Renato and we commiserate with his agony of being a betrayed husband. Serena Gamberoni’s Oscar is a delight — a stunning beauty, her voice supple and flexible, she moves like a real opera star! An American from Arkansas, Kristin Lewis is a passionate Amelia with power, secure in her top notes. Elisabetta Fiorillo (Ulrica), an old-timer now with an alto range, makes a strong impression as the wise and not at all wicked soothsayer.
About the scenery: it’s simply eye-popping and stunning, with grandiose highly artistic architecture, monumental creations and gorgeous colouring.
Editor’s Note:Next month’s WholeNote will feature an extended article by Janos Gardonyi in honour of the bicentennial of Verdi’s birth on October 10, 1813.
