December definitely rhymes with a Verdi month! Just after the Traviata/Rigoletto doublet in Paris last weekend, and just before the Forza Del Destino.in Milan next weekend, I cut the month of December in two with “Un Ballo in Maschera” at the Opernhaus in Zurich, THE Swiss and international theater of reference, with superb overlapping productions, which means that I can see a “Ballo” on Saturday evening, and another production on Sunday evening for example, and that’s great for people who travel a lot for music like me!
So I had the chance to see “Un Ballo in Maschera” on Saturday December 14, 2024, it’s an opera that means so much to me since it’s thanks to this opera that I really set foot in Verdi’s work and that I never got away from it! And rare are the times when we can see this opera around the world, I find that it is very rarely performed, while from start to finish we never get bored!
In addition… First time for me that I have the chance to see Charles Castronovo in this role! After having feasted my ears listening to his album “Noble Renégades” released a few months ago on CD and on streaming platforms, I was finally able to feast my ears listening to it in real life, especially in a theater with such beautiful acoustics! What I like about this guy is that he is a simple guy, who does not brag, who does his job passionately. As proof, I want to point out this magnificent video shot of Don Carlos, which he shot ONLY for fun, and that is quite important to note, you will also find the link to the video below:
As much as the weather was catastrophic in Zurich the day I came with a gentle mix of snow and rain, the atmosphere when the curtain fell was incredible! A simple, effective staging, with such beautiful and effective costumes!
A pleasure, always a pleasure to listen to George PETEAN, if there is one person about whom I always hear good things, about whom I hear so many good things and especially about whom I am never disappointed when he is on stage, it is him. The Romanian baritone distinguished himself again last night in a role that is not easy at all, but it is a pleasure from start to finish to listen to.
Special mention also for Erika GRIMALDI whom I think I am hearing for the first time, this young Italian soprano really made a very good impression on me, I can’t wait to see her again!
And then to finish, after hearing Gianandré NOSEDA 3 times in Carmen this same year, I loved hearing him in a Verdi, me who has a spring-loaded ear for this kind of music, it was simply perfect.
CASTING
Riccardo – Charles Castronovo
Renato – George Petean
Amelia – Erika Grimaldi
Ulrica – Agnieszka Rehlis
Oscar – Katharina Konradi
Silvano – Steffan Lloyd Owen
Samuel – Brent Michael Smith
Tom – Stanislav Vorobyov
Un giudice – Martin Zysset
Un servo d’Amelia – Álvaro Diana Sanchez
