Un Ballo in Maschera from the Met 8.12.12

[kernelbogey]

Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera - 1800, Saturday 8 December 2012

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Live from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera", a drama loosely based on the real events leading to the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden. Verdi masterfully develops this story at various levels: with the backdrop of a political conspiracy, he tells of the personal tragedy of a king and his forbidden love of his best friend's wife. This new production by David Alden features the Met's Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi at the helm of a starry cast lead by Marcelo Alvarez as King Gustav, Sondra Radvanovsky as Amelia Anckarstrom, and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as her husband, the King's friend and advisor Count Anckarstrom.

Amelia Anckarstrom ..... Sondra Radvanovsky (soprano)
Oscar ..... Kathleen Kim (soprano)
Madame Ulrica Arvidsson ..... Dolora Zajick (contralto)
King Gustavo III ..... Marcelo Alvarez (tenor)
Count Anckarstrom ..... Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone)
Christiano ..... Trevor Scheunemann (bass)
Count Ribbing ..... Keith Miller (bass)
Count Horn ..... David Crawford (bass)
The Chief Justice ..... Mark Schowalter (tenor)
Amelia's Servant ..... Scott Scully (tenor)

Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera New York
Fabio Luisi, conductor.

[Resurrection Man]

I always approach these with a feeling of apprehension. It's not just that Pinky and Perky annoy the hell out of me, I find many of the performances mediocre. And the least said about the inappropriate applause the better

[Anna]

I always approach these with a feeling of apprehension. It's not just that Pinky and Perky annoy the hell out of me, I find many of the performances mediocre. And the least said about the inappropriate applause the better

Why is the BBC hooked up to these dismal broadcasts, starting time of 6pm is rubbish. Who is available at that time to listen? Why can they not get an agreement with European opera houses and therefore leave more time in the Saturday schedule for more jazz?

[Serial_Apologist]

Why is the BBC hooked up to these dismal broadcasts, starting time of 6pm is rubbish. Who is available at that time to listen? Why can they not get an agreement with European opera houses and therefore leave more time in the Saturday schedule for more jazz?

Waheeeeey!!!

[kernelbogey]

Who is available at that time to listen?

Me!

[jean]

And if we miss them, the Met won't allow us to Listen Again!

[kernelbogey]

I listened only to Acts I & II, and from what I heard Radvanovsky and Alvarez (both new to me) sounded excellent, and I thought the orchestra played with precision and style.

I'm always surprised that Met opera broadcasts don't attract more comment on the Forum. While I agree that the Met audience's applause culture can be irritating, it does add a dimension of authenticity to a live broadcast and I think also conveys a hint of what we may not be able to see, that is the singers' stage presence. There was prolonged applause for several of the numbers, especially in Act II, and that added to my sense of occasion, and a sense of how those numbers were perceived, as it were, in the round.

[aeolium]

I agree, kernel. I listened to most of this broadcast and enjoyed it (I missed the end as I had to exchange a killing for The Killing). The Met orchestra is a very fine one imo and there are often excellent singers, like Hvorostovsky in this performance. Last week I went to the live cinema relay of the Met's La Clemenza di Tito which was also well played and sung. The productions tend to be conservative, though that's no problem on the radio, and the general luvviedom in the interval conversations can be a bit tiresome but the broadcasts do provide a chance to hear operas in generally good (sometimes excellent) performances - and to see them quite cheaply in the cinema if that's what you want. Also, the R3 seem to have made a policy change in broadcasting more operas from other venues (such as Boris Godunov from Vienna next Thursday and an ROH production coming up on Saturday).

[kernelbogey]

Thanks Aeolium - I agree with all you said. I should have acknowledged Hvorostovsky too, of course. I thought the orchestral sound was splendid. I know nothing of Fabio Luisi outside his conducting at the Met - and in my recollection I first heard his conducting when, in effect if not in fact, he stood in for an ailing James Levine, possibly last season or the season before. On the first occasion I thought perhaps he was a repetiteur who'd stepped in. I think he leads the orchestra to excellent performance, as heard last night.

[Simon]

We've been listening: I managed to get the last two thirds recorded for me. Absolutely superb! Act II has always been my favourite as regards the music.

[Cavaradossi]

And if we miss them, the Met won't allow us to Listen Again!

Jean, RTE Lyric FM cover most of the Met broadcasts, they are usually available to listen again for about 3 weeks after broadcast. Un Ballo is now online.

http://www.rte.ie/lyricfm/operanight/

[kernelbogey]

Jean, RTE Lyric FM cover most of the Met broadcasts, they are usually available to listen again for about 3 weeks after broadcast. Un Ballo is now online.

http://www.rte.ie/lyricfm/operanight/

Well, that's interesting. I wonder why the BBC doesn't make them available for Listen Again if RTE can. Hmmm....

[Cavaradossi]

Well, that's interesting. I wonder why the BBC doesn't make them available for Listen Again if RTE can. Hmmm....

I presume £££/$$$ Going back a few years ago the Met broadcasts were available on LA, even now a few seem to slip through, always worth checking. The BBC always put it down to "Rights Issues". Covers a multitude of...etc

[kernelbogey]

Well I've just submitted a complaint, aka enquiry. Tedious process. I can't imagine that RTE has more € to spend on the rights than dear old Auntie.

[Flosshilde]

Are ROH & ENO broadcasts available on listen again?