Verdi’s A Masked Ball, EIF opera & musical theatre review: 'heart-stoppingly compelling'
Every component strand worked superbly in this high voltage production of Verdi’s classic opera, writes Carol Main.
Verdi’s A Masked Ball ★★★★★
Festival Theatre
Inspired by a real-life assassination – that of King Gustav III of Sweden in 1792 – Verdi’s original plans for what eventually became Un ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) were thwarted by Neapolitan officialdom.
However, instead of presenting what could be seen as a politically risky European murder plot, Verdi shifted the action from Stockholm to Boston and, in Welsh director Adele Thomas’s production for Zurich Opera House, it takes place more or less a century later, in the American Gilded Age.
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In the first of four Edinburgh performances marking the production’s first foray out of Switzerland, it was an evening where every component strand worked superbly in complement to each other. Soloists, chorus, staging, rotating set, lighting, costumes, choreography and, underpinning it all, Gianandrea Noseda and Zurich Opera House’s exceptional own orchestra, fused together to result in high voltage dramatic and emotional intensity in the way that only opera can achieve.
Cast lists alternate with singers sharing roles on different dates, and Wednesday’s line-up was first-class across the board. Tenor Stephen Costello was a full and firm-voiced Riccardo in the leading role, as well as the ideal foil to friend-come-foe Renato, sung by baritone Dalibor Jenis whose murderous intent was heart-stoppingly compelling as he faced betrayal and humiliation in the face of discovering wife and friend as lovers.
As a passionate love-torn Amelia, Elena Stikhina sang with ever expressive control in her dynamic range, with Rebecca Olvera as the page Oscar and Yulia Matochkina as Ulrica the fortune-teller both outstanding too.
It all centred on a cleverly versatile set, reminiscent of a Victorian bandstand, and while its lighting was effectively restrained, with much use of black and white, abundant colour sprung fresh from this lesser-known Verdi opera score as the orchestra propelled the music through its tragic story. Carol Main
The remaining dates for Verdi’s A Masked Ball are Saturday 29 August at 7pm and Sunday 30 August at 2pm.
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