Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera
by Giuseppe Patane
List Price:
Our Price: $22.46
You Save: $17.52 (44%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $22.44 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Luciano PavarottiDirector: Giuseppe Patane
Brand: Uni
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); Cantonese (Subtitled); Dutch (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Italian (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 149 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-04-08
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Decca
Movie Reviews of Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera
Movie Review: Powerful Singing and Acting from Pavarotti and Ricciarelli
Summary: 5 Stars
The MET opera's previous production of Ballo, set in colonial America was premiered and recorded in 1980. Both Luciano Pavarotti and Katia Ricciarelli were at the height of their vocal powers and it shows. Pavarotti's love for the score translates well to the screen, even though he may not be the most imaginative actor around. Ricciarelli is even more effective as Amelia; as a singing actress of the highest order, her interpretation is both strong voiced and well acted. Louis Quilico as Renato is in good voice and Judith Blegen is a dashing Oscar. Bianca Berini is a bit of a low point as Ulrica, not eclipsing Florence Quivar in the subsequent MET recording. Patane's conducting is often at odds with his lead singers and the camera focus could be better at times, but this is a fantastic opportunity to see and hear both Pavarotti and Ricciarelli in their prime.
Summary of Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera
Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music) Release Date: 04/09/2008One thing you could emphatically never say about Verdi was that he skimped on melodies: Un Ballo in Maschera is a veritable greatest-hits opera, not because most of the arias are so familiar (though some surely are), but because their freshness and seemingly inexhaustible supply keep listeners' ears attuned even when the characters in this historically based tragedy perform the usual operatic deeds to each other: betrayal, revenge, and murder. This 1980 Metropolitan Opera production sets the opera in colonial Massachusetts, which was Verdi and his librettist's alternate location after Italian censors insisted it not take place in Europe. (The Met's more recent stagings have returned it to the original Sweden.) Elijah Moshinsky's production works surpassingly well on video, focusing the eyes on the performers, all of whom surpass themselves dramatically and vocally. Louis Quilico makes a credible Renato, who must decide whether his best friend--who is also the "Governor of Boston" (!)--is in love with his beautiful wife. Katia Ricciarelli displays a sweet tone as Renato's wife, Amelia, and none other than Luciano Pavarotti plays Riccardo, torn between loyalty to his friend and love for his friend's wife. Never the subtlest actor, Pavarotti made his name on his one-of-a-kind tenor voice, and in 1980 he was in his prime, making this disc a valuable document. The conducting of Giuseppe Patané is more than adequate. --Kevin Filipski
Similar DVD Movies
Verdi - Don Carlos (Original French Version) / Pappano, Alagna, Hampson, Theatre du ChateletRelease date: 2003-09-16; DVD
Best price: $13.95
Price in other shops:
Verdi - Don Carlo / Pavarotti, Dessi, Ramey, d'Intino, Coni, Muti, La Scala OperaEMD; Release date: 2004-06-15; DVD
Best price: $16.16
Price in other shops:
La Boheme: The FilmKultur; Release date: 2009-12-15; DVD
Best price: $16.76
Price in other shops:
Verdi: Otello (Metropolitan Opera)Release date: 2011-08-16; DVD
Best price: $10.75
Price in other shops:
Puccini - La Boheme / Pavarotti, Scotto, Niska, Wixell, Plishka, Levine, Metropolitan OperaUniversal Studios; Release date: 2005-10-11; DVD
Best price: $9.89
Price in other shops:
Puccini: Turandot at the Metropolitan OperaUniversal Studios; Release date: 2003-08-12; DVD
Best price: $15.60
Price in other shops:
R. Strauss - SalomeUniversal Studios; Release date: 2007-07-10; DVD
Best price: $14.80
Price in other shops:
Donizetti: L'elisir D'amoreUniversal Studios; Release date: 2008-04-08; DVD
Best price: $14.16
Price in other shops:
Verdi - Rigoletto / Luciano Pavarotti, Ingvar Wixell, Edita Gruberova, Victoria Vergara, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Riccardo ChaillyUniversal Studios; Release date: 2006-07-04; Published: 2006; DVD
Best price: $15.76
Price in other shops:
Verdi - Aida / Levine, Domingo, Millo, Metropolitan OperaRelease date: 2000-12-12; Published: 2011-10-24; DVD
Best price: $16.82
Price in other shops: