Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera / Levine, Pavarotti, Nucci, Metropolitan Opera

Rating:
Summary: Super Opera.... The Best Ballo!!!!!
Review: I am, as you might glisten from the title, a big fan of this production. It is right on, from begging to end. the Metropolitan goes with Verdi's original, set in Sweeden.
Pavarotti is in his very best form as Gustav. He has often written that he has a special identification with the Role, we can tell. he really tries to act. He is incredibly believable. He looks like a Big, naieve, fun loving Aristocrat, who waxes melodramatic. pavarotti brings this straishtforward across wonderfully. his voice rings solid throuought.
April Millo is just smashing, no complaints. her Amelia is perfect, and the audience knows it, showering her with praise after her 3nd act Aria.
Her tone is dark, and there are no issues with vibrato as stated elsewhere. Visually she works well with Pavarotti, they are both middle aged and large. this is not to say that Millo is not beautiful, for she is. But is is just the type of beauty that is appropriate for Pavarotti's Gustav.
To me, Leo Nucci streals the show. His Renato (Ive forgotten the swedish equivalent) is incredible. his high notes go right to your ear. The resonace is so alive. The A flats and G's are right on pitch with no strain. As an actor he bumbles around the stage capable, a very grumpy character, always scowling. One could understand the coolness between he and Amelia.
The Ocscar of this production, the name escapes me, deserves special mention for a incredible soprano tone and energentic acting.

Rating:
Summary: A Terrific Ballo!!!
Review: It's great to finally have this BALLO on DVD! This has always been one of Verdi's best works and it is handled here with a terrific cast and conductor. I prefer this recording to the medicore BALLO from 1980, also with Pavarotti, but Ricciarelli and Quilico are nowhere near as effective as Millo and Nucci. NOt to mention, this production, with a historically acruate setting of Sweden, is much more pleasing on the eye than the barren attempt to recreate colonial Boston of the older production.

BALLO falls flat without a strong tenor, and here we have Luciano Pavarotti, in his mid-fifties, and still producing one of the best tenor sounds out there. THough his voice is clearly darker and heavier than what it was in 1980, he still handles all the top-notes with ease. On top of all that, this is the role that he seems most comfortable with- and it shows! He actually attempts to act at times and his death scene is surprisingly very touching and effective.
Aprille Millo is heard here in the midst of her short-lived zenith. She sings quite possibly the greatest "Ecco L'Orido Campo" I have heard at the start of the second act.
Leo Nucci doesn't have the most elegant voice, but he manages to do an excellent job in this and clearly edges out the competition (Quilico & Cappucilli) on the competing versions.
Strong support comes from mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar and soprano Harolyn Blackwell as Ulrica and Oscar, respectively.
James Levine keeps it all together very well and, once again, proves himself a Verdi specialist.

Rating:
Summary: A Terrific Ballo!!!
Review: It's great to finally have this BALLO on DVD! This has always been one of Verdi's best works and it is handled here with a terrific cast and conductor. I prefer this recording to the medicore BALLO from 1980, also with Pavarotti, but Ricciarelli and Quilico are nowhere near as effective as Millo and Nucci. NOt to mention, this production, with a historically acruate setting of Sweden, is much more pleasing on the eye than the barren attempt to recreate colonial Boston of the older production.

BALLO falls flat without a strong tenor, and here we have Luciano Pavarotti, in his mid-fifties, and still producing one of the best tenor sounds out there. THough his voice is clearly darker and heavier than what it was in 1980, he still handles all the top-notes with ease. On top of all that, this is the role that he seems most comfortable with- and it shows! He actually attempts to act at times and his death scene is surprisingly very touching and effective.
Aprille Millo is heard here in the midst of her short-lived zenith. She sings quite possibly the greatest "Ecco L'Orido Campo" I have heard at the start of the second act.
Leo Nucci doesn't have the most elegant voice, but he manages to do an excellent job in this and clearly edges out the competition (Quilico & Cappucilli) on the competing versions.
Strong support comes from mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar and soprano Harolyn Blackwell as Ulrica and Oscar, respectively.
James Levine keeps it all together very well and, once again, proves himself a Verdi specialist.

Rating:
Summary: Gran función!
Review: Nos encontramos francamente ante una función del 'Ballo' de grandísimo nivel, con un reparto que encabeza una APRILLE MILLO (Amelia) en absoluto estado de gracia, bien secundada por LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (aquí Gustavo) y un LEO NUCCI (Renato) que, tras un comienzo irregular, no tarda en calentar para ofrecernos otra de sus funciones gloriosas. Entre los secundarios destaca la poderosa Ulrica de FLORENCE QUIVAR, y el punto débil lo encontramos en el sobreactuado y cantado con suficiencia Oscar de HAROLYN BLACKWELL. El resto del reparto cumple con corección, y JAMES LEVINE lleva bien a la orquesta del MET y la producción es clásica, pero bastante atractiva.

Rating:
Summary: Gran función!
Review: Nos encontramos francamente ante una función del 'Ballo' de grandísimo nivel, con un reparto que encabeza una APRILLE MILLO (Amelia) en absoluto estado de gracia, bien secundada por LUCIANO PAVAROTTI (aquí Gustavo) y un LEO NUCCI (Renato) que, tras un comienzo irregular, no tarda en calentar para ofrecernos otra de sus funciones gloriosas. Entre los secundarios destaca la poderosa Ulrica de FLORENCE QUIVAR, y el punto débil lo encontramos en el sobreactuado y cantado con suficiencia Oscar de HAROLYN BLACKWELL. El resto del reparto cumple con corección, y JAMES LEVINE lleva bien a la orquesta del MET y la producción es clásica, pero bastante atractiva.

Rating:
Summary: Leo Nucci
Review: Pavorotti is, of course, great, but Leo Nucci is the man here for me. I love this guy. Check him out as well in La Traviata with the phenomenal Angela Gheorghiu.

Rating:
Summary: It's a very good performance
Review: This is a very good recording.
Levine makes the orchestra sound great as usual.
Pavarotti is well suited for this roll and sings wonderfully.
Millo sings and acts well in this, but her vibrato is just too wide and that brings the pitch down considerably.
Nucci is very good in this as well as usual.
A very good recording!!