111278-79 bk Ballo Maschera_EU 11/12/07 1:22 PM Page 12 VERDI Un ballo in maschera RIA CALL A AS Also available M 8.111280-81 8.111322-24 1 g 956 Recordin Maria Callas • Giuseppe Di Stefano • Tito Gobbi Fedora Barbieri • Eugenia Ratti Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Antonino Votto 8.111278-79 12 111278-79 bk Ballo Maschera_EU 11/12/07 1:22 PM Page 2 Great Opera Recordings that rôle should be Ulrica’s. Renato, Samuel and Tom they had agreed, in blue cloaks and hoods, with red plan their costume for the ball and their password, sashes. Renato, in the same costume, comes slowly death. forward. They exchange the password, death. Oscar Giuseppe approaches Renato, whom he has recognised, and Scene 2 promises to follow him everywhere. He tells Renato VERDI that the Governor is there. (1813-1901) ^ In his finely appointed study Riccardo is writing, ) Oscar refuses to tell Renato what costume Riccardo regretting the heartbreak that honour and duty demand. is wearing, teasing him. They are separated by dancing He is writing an order for Renato to return to England, couples, after which Renato rejoins Oscar, pleading Un ballo in maschera where he will go, together with his wife, without saying urgent business with Riccardo. Oscar finally tells him goodbye. As he is about to sign the order, he drops his that the Governor is wearing a black cloak with a pink Opera in Three Acts pen, while the orchestra recalls his first aria of love. He ribbon on his chest. Libretto by Antonio Somma takes up the pen and signs the document, musing on his ¡ The dancers return, separating them once more. after Eugène Scribe’s libretto Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué sacrifice. ™ Riccardo comes forward, thoughtful, wearing a & Even if he must lose her for ever, he will always black cloak with a pink ribbon, followed by Amelia in a remember Amelia in his heart, yet he feels a white domino. Trying to avoid his recognition, she asks presentiment of death, as if this were the last hour of him why he is there and tells him to escape, since death Riccardo . Giuseppe Di Stefano (tenor) their love. threatens him. Riccardo is not afraid, but she urges Renato . Tito Gobbi (baritone) * Guests are arriving and he wishes to see her again flight. He wants to learn her name, but she cannot reveal Amelia . Maria Callas (soprano) and talk to her. Oscar comes in, bringing a message it. Why then, he asks, is she so concerned about his life? Ulrica . Fedora Barbieri (mezzo-soprano) from an unknown woman. Riccardo reads the paper that He recognises Amelia, who warns him as strongly as Oscar . Eugenia Ratti (soprano) Oscar has given him, telling him that an attempt will be she can to make his escape. He has no care for his own Silvano . Enzo Giordano (baritone) made on his life at the ball, yet if he does not go, people life, however, since Amelia loves him. He tells her of Samuel . Silvio Maionica (bass) will say that he is afraid. He tells Oscar to hurry to join his order for Renato’s return with her to England, Tom . Nicola Zaccaria (bass) the entertainment with him, while, alone for a moment, bidding her a last farewell. A Judge / A Servant of Amelia . Renato Ercolani (tenor) he looks forward to seeing Amelia once again. £ Renato, unobserved by them, now leaps forward and stabs Riccardo, while Amelia cries out for help, as Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Scene 3 guards, officers and others rush in. They surround (Norberto Mola, chorus master) Renato, removing his mask, castigating him as a traitor. Antonino Votto, conductor The Masked Ball Riccardo, as he dies, calls on them to leave Renato. ¢ He tells Renato that Amelia is innocent, swearing the ( The scene is a richly decorated ballroom, brightly lit. truth of this, as he lies on his deathbed. He takes out the Recorded 4th-9th September, 1956 in the Teatro alla Scala, Milan The orchestra introduces music for the dance, as the order for the departure of Renato and Amelia for First released on Columbia 33CX 1472 through 1474 guests gather, the majority masked, some in dominos, England. Renato at once feels remorse, as Riccardo others in gala dress, with their faces covered. Among forgives him, dying, while those standing by praise his Reissue Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn the dancing couples are some young Creoles. There are generosity in a night of horror. black servants and everything breathes magnificence and gaiety. The company express their delight. They are Producer’s Note joined by Samuel, Tom and the conspirators, dressed, as Keith Anderson A few dropouts, noticeable edits and distortion in loud passages are inherent in the original master tapes, and are not a function of the LP sources used for the present transfer. Mark Obert-Thorn 8.111278-79 211 8.111278-79 111278-79 bk Ballo Maschera_EU 11/12/07 1:22 PM Page 10 2 Eventually he asks Renato to escort Amelia, veiled 8 As she goes, he turns in anger to the portrait of CD 1 70:01 # Su, fatemi largo, saper vo’ il mio fato 3:26 and her identity unknown to him, back to the city. This Riccardo, the one on whom he should take revenge. (Silvano, Ulrica, Riccardo, Chorus, Servant) Renato swears to do. 9 Renato accuses Riccardo of bringing dishonour on 1 Prelude 4:19 3 In agitation Amelia hears Riccardo’s enemies Amelia, betraying him and poisoning the world for him. (Orchestra) $ Che v’agita così? 1:27 approaching and begs him to escape. Renato, looking He recalls his love for Amelia, in her beauty, now (Ulrica, Amelia, Riccardo) towards the approaching conspirators, adds his urgent turned to hatred and death. Act I pleas to hers. Riccardo, faced by traitors, sees himself as % Della città all’occaso 1:30 a traitor to Renato. Eventually he hurries away. Conspiracy Scene 1 (Ulrica, Amelia, Riccardo) 4 Renato bids Amelia follow him, as Samuel, Tom and 2 ^ 0 Posa in pace, a’ bei sogni ristora 1:35 Consentimi, o Signore 2:29 the conspirators draw near. They are challenged by Joined by the conspirators, Renato makes it clear that (Officers, Gentlemen, Samuel, Tom, Henchmen) (Amelia, Ulrica, Riccardo, Chorus) Renato, disappointed to find Riccardo not there, but he knows their plans to murder Riccardo, showing them ready to unveil the woman standing there, as Amelia papers that reveal this. To their surprise, however, he 3 S’avanza il Conte 1:36 & Su, profetessa, monta il treppiè 0:49 cries to heaven for help. Renato draws his sword to agrees to join them, assuring them of his change of (Oscar, Riccardo) (Chorus, Oscar, Riccardo) defend her, but Amelia drops her veil, to the heart, in spite of their incredulity. astonishment of her husband and the others. ! Together with them Renato demands vengeance. 4 La rivedrà nell'estasi 1:58 * Di’ tu se fedele 3:21 5 The conspirators find Renato’s apparent assignation @ He asks them the favour of allowing him to be the (Riccardo, Oscar, Officers, Gentlemen, Samuel, (Riccardo, Chorus) with his own wife ridiculous, while Renato is angry at assassin. They disagree, but Renato takes a vase from Tom, Henchmen) Riccardo’s betrayal of him and deeply distressed, as he the mantelpiece and Samuel writes their names on ( Chi voi siate, l'audace parola 2:27 has saved Riccardo, the man who has dishonoured his pieces of paper, throwing them into the vase. At this 5 Il cenno mio di là con essi attendi 2:34 (Ulrica, Riccardo, Samuel, Oscar, Chorus) wife. He invites the conspirators to his house the next moment Amelia comes in, telling Renato that Oscar is (Riccardo, Oscar, Renato) day. They disperse, their voices heard from a distance as there with an invitation from the Governor. Renato sees ) È scherzo od è follia 3:27 6 Alla vita che t’arride 2:50 (Riccardo, Ulrica, Samuel, Tom, Oscar, Chorus) they go their various ways. Renato tells Amelia to come her presence as a good omen, as he draws her towards (Renato) with him, as his voice has for her the sound of death. the table and tells her to take a paper from the vase. She ¡ Finisci il vaticinio 4:22 is apprehensive, suspecting some violent result. Under 7 Il primo giudice 1:31 (Riccardo, Ulrica, Chorus, Samuel, Tom, Renato, Act III Renato’s threatening gaze, she approaches the table, (Oscar, Riccardo, Judge) Silvano, Oscar, Henchmen) trembling, and draws out a paper, which her husband Scene 1 passes to Samuel. 8 Volta la terrea 2:38 Act II # Renato asks whose name is on the paper, and Samuel (Oscar, Riccardo, Judge, Renato, Samuel, 6 The scene is a study in Renato’s house. On a sadly admits that it is Renato’s, to the latter’s delight. Tom, Henchmen) ™ Prelude 2:31 mantelpiece to one side stand two bronze vases and Amelia realises that there is a plan to murder Riccardo, (Orchestra) opposite there is a bookcase. In the background there is as they join together, expressing their various thoughts. 9 Ogni cura si doni al diletto 2:18 a magnificent portrait of Riccardo and in the middle of $ Oscar comes in, inviting Amelia to the ball that (Riccardo, Renato, Oscar, Samuel, Tom, £ Ecco l’orrido campo ove s’accoppia 1:31 the room a table. Renato, the door shut, lays his sword Riccardo is to hold that evening. Amelia refuses, but Henchmen, Officers, Gentlemen) (Amelia) on the table.