Experience the timeless elegance of Giuseppe Verdi's "A Masked Ball" in this exquisite 2004 recording, brought to you by Chandos. Originally composed in 1859, this three-act opera is a masterclass in dramatic storytelling and musical brilliance, now presented in a stunning English translation by Amanda Holden. The opera, based on Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's "Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué," delves into the political intrigue and tragic fate of King Gustav III of Sweden, who meets his end at a masked ball as a result of a conspiracy.
This album captures the essence of Verdi's genius, with a stellar performance by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the skilled direction of David Parry. The solo tenor role of Gustavus III is brought to life by the powerful vocals of Dennis O'Neill, complemented by a talented cast that breathes life into each character. The opera's rich orchestration and soaring arias are beautifully rendered, making this recording a standout in any classical music collection.
Spanning nearly two hours, this album offers a comprehensive exploration of Verdi's operatic prowess. From the haunting preludes to the dramatic arias and ensemble pieces, every moment is infused with Verdi's signature passion and depth. Whether you're a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "A Masked Ball" promises an unforgettable journey through one of Verdi's most compelling works.
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
Giuseppe Verdi, born in 1813 near Busseto, Italy, is one of the most celebrated composers in the history of opera. His powerful and emotive works have left an indelible mark on the world of classical music, making him a symbol of Italian opera during the 19th century. Verdi's journey to fame was marked by personal tragedies and political turmoil, but his resilience and genius shone through, resulting in timeless masterpieces. His operas, including "Rigoletto," "La Traviata," and "Aida," are renowned for their thrilling drama and unforgettable melodies. Verdi's influence extended beyond music; he was also a key figure in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification. His legacy endures, with his works remaining staples in opera houses worldwide, cementing his status as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Vinylscout
Giuseppe Verdi
