Immerse yourself in the dramatic world of Giuseppe Verdi's "A Masked Ball," a captivating opera that blends intrigue, passion, and political conspiracy into a gripping narrative. Released on September 1, 2004, by Chandos, this classical masterpiece spans nearly two hours, offering a rich and immersive experience for opera enthusiasts and classical music lovers alike.
"A Masked Ball" is a story of love, betrayal, and political intrigue set against the backdrop of a masked ball. Verdi's composition is renowned for its powerful arias and ensemble pieces, showcasing the depth of human emotion and the complexities of political maneuvering. The opera features a stellar cast of characters, each bringing their unique perspective and motivations to the story.
The album begins with the Act I Prelude, setting the stage for the unfolding drama. As the plot thickens, you'll be drawn into the lives of King Gustavus, his beloved Amelia, and the conspirators who seek to undermine their happiness. The music swells with tension and passion, reflecting the high stakes and emotional turmoil of the characters.
Verdi's mastery of orchestration and vocal composition is evident throughout the album. From the haunting melodies of the arias to the dramatic intensity of the ensemble pieces, each track is a testament to Verdi's genius. The album culminates in a powerful finale, leaving you with a sense of resolution and satisfaction.
"A Masked Ball" is not just an opera; it's a journey through the human experience, exploring themes of love, power, and the consequences of our actions. Whether you're a seasoned opera aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this album offers a rich and rewarding listening experience. Dive into the world of Giuseppe Verdi and let the music transport you to a time of intrigue and passion.
2004 Chandos Records2004 Chandos Records
Tracks
A Masked Ball, Act I: PreludeGiuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: Rest Gustavus, may sweet dreams restore you (Ribbing, Horn, Henchmen, Officers, Gentlemen)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: The King approaches (Oscar, Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: There shall I gaze in ecstasy (Gustavus, Ribbing, Horn, Oscar, Officers, Gentlemen, Henchmen)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: Go with the others and wait until I call you (Gustavus, Oscar, Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: Please reflect upon your duty (Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: The Lord Chief Justice! (Oscar, Gustavus, Lord Chief Justice)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Ashley Catling
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: She conjures from afar, thunder and lightning (Oscar, Gustavus, Lord Chief Justice)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Ashley Catling
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: My friends, will you come with me (Gustavus, Anckarstroem, Oscar, Ribbing, Horn)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 1: We can all go and see her together (Gustavus, Anckarstroem, Oscar, Ribbing, Horn, Henchmen)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Quiet … her trance must not be interrupted … (Ulrike, Women, Children)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: I'm first to be here! (Gustavus, Ulrike, Women, Children)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Dennis O'Neill, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Allow me to enter (Cristian, Ulrike, Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Dennis O'Neill, Roland Wood
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: You can rest assured (Ulrike, Cristian, Gustavus,Women, Servant)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Dennis O'Neill, Roland Wood, Ashley Catling, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: What brings you here to me? (Ulrike, Amelia, Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Dennis O'Neill, Susan Patterson
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Step out towards the sunset (Ulrike, Amelia, Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Dennis O'Neill, Susan Patterson
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Oh, help me, God in heaven (Amelia, Ulrike, Gustavus, Voices)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jill Grove, Dennis O'Neill, Susan Patterson, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Rise, great enchantress, speak to us all (Ribbing, Horn, Oscar, Gustavus, Men)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Do you see the furious billows abating (Gustavus, Oscar, Chorus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Reckless stranger, your words are defiant (Ulrike, Gustavus, Ribbing, Oscar)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Jill Grove, Christopher Purves
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: Her crazy crystal-gazing (Gustavus, Ulrike, Ribbing, Horn, Oscar, Chorus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Jill Grove, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act I Scene 2: One thing you've yet to tell me (Gustavus, Ulrike, Oscar, Ribbing, Horn, Anckarstroem, Cristian, ChoGiuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Jill Grove, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act II: PreludeGiuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra
A Masked Ball, Act II: Here I am in this place of retribution (Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson
A Masked Ball, Act II: When I pluck these dark stems (Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson
A Masked Ball, Act II: Here at last (Gustavus, Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Dennis O'Neill
A Masked Ball, Act II: You must know that I too have been aching (Gustavus, Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Dennis O'Neill
A Masked Ball, Act II: The sweetest words I ever heard (Gustavus, Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Dennis O'Neill
A Masked Ball, Act II: Oh God! Someone is here! (Amelia, Gustavus, Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Dennis O'Neill, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act II: My friend, I ask you a personal favour (Gustavus, Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act II: Do you hear how the menacing voices (Amelia, Anckarstroem, Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Dennis O'Neill, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act II: Stay close to me (Anckarstroem, Amelia, Ribbing, Horn, Conspirators)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act II: We interrupt their stolen kisses (Ribbing, Horn, Anckarstroem, Amelia, Conspirators)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: Your offence is not forgiven (Anckarstroem, Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: I go, but in compassion (Amelia, Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Susan Patterson, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: Stand up! I permit you to see your son (Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: Shame on you, who defiled my beloved (Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: We are gathered. Now hear me (Anckarstroem)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: I'm with you (Anckarstroem, Ribbing, Horn)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: Let us all by our shame be united (Anckarstroem, Ribbing, Horn)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: One indulgence I ask of you (Anckarstroem, Ribbing, Horn, Amelia)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Susan Patterson
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: So which name has been chosen? (Anckarstroem, Ribbing, Amelia, Horn)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Susan Patterson
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: Now Oscar may enter (Anckarstroem, Oscar, Amelia, Ribbing, Horn)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Susan Patterson, Linda Richardson
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 1: Ah! I know that something wonderful (Oscar, Amelia, Anckarstroem, Ribbing, Horn)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Susan Patterson, Linda Richardson
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 2: Perhaps she is safely home now (Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 2: But if your light is lost to me (Gustavus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 2: Ah! She is there. How can I see her (Gustavus, Oscar)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Dennis O'Neill, Linda Richardson
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 3: The hall is filled with laughter (Ribbing, Anckarstroem, Horn, Oscar, Chorus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Christopher Purves, Brindley Sherratt, Linda Richardson, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 3: Why are you caring? (Oscar)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Linda Richardson
A Masked Ball, Act III Scene 3: The hall is filled with laughter (Anckarstroem, Oscar, Chorus)Giuseppe Verdi, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Linda Richardson, Anthony Michaels-Moore, Geoffrey Mitchell Choir