Un Ballo in Maschera

Although some recent productions of Verdi's 1859 opera have situated the action in the original setting of the Swedish royal court, this 2011 staging from the Teatro Regio di Parma follows the change required by 19th-century censors, placing the story in colonial Massachusetts. The libretto finds the British governor Earl Riccardo being assassinated at the titular masked ball in a conspiracy that includes his secretary, Renato, who is driven to the act by what he believes to be his wife Amelia's infidelity with Riccardo (a fortune teller is also involved). One of the most popular of the composer's works, Un Ballo in Maschera is already available in numerous versions, many with starry casts (see VL-3/07 and VL-7/10). But this Parma performance—the 21st release in the Tutto Verdi series—shines even in the face of formidable competition. Gianluigi Gelmetti conducts vividly but with a sensitivity to the score's subtle nuances, and the singing is superb, with Francesco Meli in especially fine form as Riccardo, his tenor ringing out gloriously. Vladimir Stoyanov (Renato) and Kristin Lewis (Amelia) are also excellent, although the latter is a bit pallid dramatically. And while a few of the secondary singers, including a wobbly Elisabetta Fiorillo as the fortune teller, are disappointing, the company chorus sings with gusto. Featuring sumptuous traditional sets and costumes, this is presented in DTS-5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and PCM stereo. Extras include a brief introduction to the opera. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)