Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera [Box set, Original recording reissued]

Giuseppe Verdi (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), National Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Christa Ludwig (Performer), Kathleen Battle (Performer), Luciano Pavarotti (Performer), Margaret Price (Performer), Renato Bruson (Performer), Robert Lloyd (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Christa Ludwig, Kathleen Battle, Luciano Pavarotti, Margaret Price, Renato Bruson, et al.
• Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Audio CD (September 10, 2002)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set, Original recording reissued
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041P1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,535 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #5 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Battle, Kathleen
  • #5 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Ludwig, Christa
  • #24 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > H to L

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.fr

Au moment de cet enregistrement, au début des années quatre-vingt, Sir Georg Solti était encore tout auréolé du prestige d'une précédente interprétation du Bal masqué réalisée en 33 tours. Plus encore que dans la première mouture, le chef d'origine hongroise exacerbe ici la violence du drame, poussant tous les personnages vers leur destin, dans un souffle épique d'une rare intensité. Une distribution quasiment idéale fait face au chef : un Pavarotti de la grande époque, un Bruson idiomatique et une Christa Ludwig d'une ardeur insoupçonnée. --Pierre Guillaume

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A True Standard Bearer, December 11, 2003

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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

Verdi's UN BALLO IN MASCHERA has been one of his perennial favorites since it was first performed and it is easy to understand why. The music is charming and it's plot about a King who falls in love with a married woman, almost causes her to be unfaithful which results in his death by her jealous husband, and the king's forgiving his attacker, is dramatic to say the least. It is also, interestingly enough, based on a true story. The action is supposed to take place in Sweden, but Italian censors feared that the death of a king could cause regicide in Italy, so the king became a royal governor in colonial Massachusetts and was renamed Riccardo. In most productions today, the action takes place in Sweden.

Luciano Pavarotti has a strong tenor voice that is well suited for the lead role of Riccardo, and his interpretation of the role in this recording is one of his best recorded performances. Margaret Price, a soprano not often associated with Verdi, sings Amelia and is probably one of the pleasant surprises in the set. Renato Brunson sings his role with fervor. We can feel both his anger and hatred in his interpretation of Amelia's jealous husband, also named Renato. Christa Ludwig plays the fortune teller Ulrica and we also hear the light and flexible voice of a young Kathleen Battle as Oscar, the page boy.

While there are other admirable recordings of this opera with tenors such as Jussi Bjorling, Franco Corelli, and Placido Domingo, and a reasonably good recording with Jose Carreras as Riccardo, this set, under the baton of Sir George Solti has it all: a fantastic cast, a wonderful chorus and orchestra, and a great conductor.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!, March 7, 2003

By 

G. Golding (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

This is a great, great recording of perhaps Verdi's most tuneful opera. The whole performance is wonderul. Some think that Solti presses too hard in Verdi, but I like it. Even in Rossini, I like Schippers (Sills' Lucia) who puts some drama into the work instead of milk-sop conducting of some. Give me some guts, please!
Pavarotti was about to lose his interest in opera at the time of recording, and this is, I believe, his last great recording. He does act, sings some soft tones and is regal. A really great King (or Duke).
Margaret Price is absolutely gorgeous. I just love her singing, with beautiful pianissimos, excellent acting and rock solid high C's. The slow acent to the climax in the Act II aria is thrilling. Chesty notes follow with great easy and drama. Bravissima
Bruson: Simply put, one of the most beautiful voices in history. I can only describe it as lush, vocal velvet. He sings with great drama and depth of charactarization. I just LOVE this baritone.
Ludwig and Battle: Great. No problem. Both singe with accuracy and committment.
My favorite "Ballo" on disc!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Stellar Cast Makes this a great recording of Un Ballo, December 4, 1999

By A Customer

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

The cast of this recording is simply wonderful. Margaret Price has one of the most beautiful voices in opera and is really under-recorded. She has a rich full Dramatic voice, and is perfectly suited to Amelia. ALL her notes are beautiful - ALL. Renato Brunson also has a wonderful Dramatic baritone sound, there is so much drive in his voice, it is a huge dark sound that is simply ravising (he's one of my favorite baritones). And like Margaret Price you can hear all the thought that is put into his singing of this role, he is very emotionally involved in his character. Ludwig is the best Ulrica on record, and Kathleen Battle is very enchanting Oscar, it is a joy to listen to such a secure singer in this role. Pavarotti while no longer in his prime as in the earlier recording with Tebaldi, at this point in his career in great voice. This is a definite recommend. Of all the Un Ballo's currently available this is one of the best!