Un Ballo in Maschera - Teatro alla Scala (2013)

© Teatro alla Scala

Verdi´s  bicentennial celebrations continue at the Teatro alla Scala with a new production of un Ballo in Maschera. Once again the young Italian director Damiano Michieletto and his team have created a modern interpretation of this story of love and political intrigues. We are at the headquaters of the political leader Riccardo in an American style  election campaign. We meet colourful panels and t shirts to motivate his team splendidly represented by the Scala choir. Urica is another leader much more of a sect of believers. She celebrates magic wonders with people in rolling chairs sharp to the edge of taste. Amelia is collecting her healing herbs at the criminal outskirts of an imaginary city where the whores and gangsters meet. At the Finale we gather at the glorious victory party of Riccardo, cleverly seperating the scene with papp mache statues of the winner as disguising masks and light spots as used in TV shows. In this modern outfit young Piero Petri replacing Marcelo Alvarez as Riccardo has given a good demonstration of his clear, warm tenor with easiness in height, sometimes lacking volume for the big house of the Scala theater. Zeljo Lucic is his devoted friend and later enemy Renato beautifully singing and less skillful playing on stage. Sondra Radvanovsky s voice vibrates and is sharp metallic as Amelia. Marianne Cornetti is a dramatic Urica with a dark coloured voice. Patrizia Ciofi marks a splendid Oscar with strong presence on scene. The director presents her as a young devoted female assistant of Riccardo. Very convincing Allessio Arduini as Silvano.

Daniele Rustioni conducts the well prepared Scala orchestra cautiously and balanced. After a fine and elaborated ouverture he remains supportive and attentive to the singers so ignoring the dramatic potential of the orchestral part of the opera.