Opernglas (German Opera Journal) on Il Ballo in Maschera in Chicago

The season at the Lyric Opera ends with a problematic new production of A masked Ball. The decoration by Frank Philippe Schluessmann have been an example of  contemporaryl European taste. It was not so bold example, but for the conservative Chicago audience not welcome. Especially for Verdi-lovers, who in the last season have seen innovative Falstaff and Rigoletto. At the musical side Mark Elder offered a good balance of ensemble and chorus. Most of the solists have been excellent. Only it seems, that the house is not able to get a really excellent Verdi soprano. Veronica Villaroel gave her debut as Amelia and shows that she misses the height which is necessary for this part. She is a pretty person and sings fitting in the depth and medium but the top tones have been sounding concentrated and with a lot of vibrato. On the opposite, veteran tenor Neil Shicoff had never sounded better. He does easily the part of Riccardo was bravouros in the high tessitura and delivered his high Bs with devotion. Dimitri Hvorostovsky present his actual lyric voice in this dramatic part of Renato very intelligently and offered with his intensive and emotional Eri tu the succes of the evening!!! There have been also a lot of mistakes. For instance: At the request of Amelia to see her child, Renato was not in the room. Amelia was not on her knees to react at Renatos Alzati. Also was the king killed by Renato by shooting while he have sung before stat will stab him.

The text is translated and presented to our site by Ms. Margarete Zdichynec.