Product Details

• Actors: Luciano Pavarotti, Katia Ricciarelli, Judith Blegen, Julien Robbins, Bianca Berini
• Directors: Brian Large
• Writers: Antonio Somma
• Format: Classical, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 149 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300215210
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,466 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One 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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Singing and Acting from Pavarotti and Ricciarelli, April 8, 2008

By 

Robert Petersen (Durban, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera (DVD)

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.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Outsanding production only hampered by poor visuals, November 18, 2001

By 

David (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verdi - Un ballo in maschera / James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera (DVD)

The Met's 1980 production of Un Ballo in Maschera is set in colonial Boston on the eve of the Revolutionary War. This is the setting Verdi chose after the censor's refusal to allow the opera to take place in Sweden. It was to have been based on a historical event, the assassination of Sweden's King Gustav III. History or not, having a king assassinated at a masked ball on the operatic stage was simply too controversial in 1859, and Verdi was forced to change the setting to Boston and the king to a governor! Ballo would be an outstanding work no matter where it were placed, as it has an rivetting story filled with growing tension set to some of Verdi's most beautiful music. Pavarotti is at the peak of his illustrious career as the Governor of Boston, and for that reason alone this DVD will be of great interest to opera fans. That is not to say that Pavarotti outshines the rest of the cast, for it made up of a fine constellation of stars. Katia Ricciarelli is inspired and truly gets into her character, Amelia. Louis Quilico has what must be one of the great performances of his career, and Judith Blegen shines in the travesti role as Oscar. Bianca Berini as Ulraca is somewhat lackluster, as her performance lacks fire and menace. That aside, this is a great performance of Ballo, and it would be difficult to top it. It is therefore a great shame that the picture quality is so poor, especially in the numerous night scenes. In the more dimly lit scenes the picture is often grainy and blurred to the point of distraction. This truly great performance deserved much, much better treatment. The sound quality is average, but fortunately it fares much better than the overall picture quality. In short, this is a diamond performance that should have been one of the all-time great opera performances captured on DVD but for serious short-comings on the technical end.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PAVAROTTI AT HIS PRIME, February 21, 2001

By 

Noam Eitan (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verdi - Un ballo in maschera / James Levine, The Metropolitan Opera (DVD)

This DVD features a dream cast of singers with Pavarotti at his prime in a role that is coveted by many tenors. This is one of Pavarotti's best recorded renditions of this role and possibly his best performance on DVD so far. He seems relaxed, confident and almost enjoying himself. The rest of the staff is stellar. The conductor Patanè is an old hand in this repertoire. It's pure joy to listen to his experienced and attentive tailoring of his tempi to the singers (and vice versa - very good team work), as well as taking charge with gusto when the soloists aren't in center stage. He achieves this with no idiosyncratic mannerisms or forcing of his style. His approach sounds so natural that it's easy to overlook his contribution to the success of this unforgettable performance.

Despite the memorable performance the picture quality is barely acceptable. Practically all the Pioneer Classics ("PC") DVD's have poor picture quality. Worse examples are: La forza del destino, Lucia di Lammermoor, Hansel and Gretel, Metropolitan Opera - Centennial Gala and Manon Lescaut. The Francesca da Rimini is of equal picture quality. The best is the Idomeneo DVD, also with Pavarotti. But even that falls short of what can be expected on this medium. Inadequate lighting exacerbates the problem in many of the MET productions issued by PC DVD's. All of them are copied from the laser disc masters rather than from the originals. In addition to that, most are from the 80's and show their age.