While I was in St. Pete, I was able to visit the great Verdi opera "Masquerade Ball".
18 September, at night, in front of the Mikhailovsky Theatre slight a crowd of people wanting to get inside. We must pay tribute, the theater changed and today a visit to its present gives aesthetic pleasure.
Premiere "Masquerade Ball" was held on February 17, 1859 in Rome. About this, the 23rd in a row Verdi-rich melodies and vocal diversity, saying that every sentence in her musical, and every vocal melody.
In my opinion, this is totally random words. Verdi's beautiful music creates a unique filling selected touching story, giving the opportunity to live through the perception presented scenes.
Being a big fan Italian opera, I said to myself, that the pleasure derived by me from the action reduces to a tremendous opportunity to experience what is happening on stage in a tall and thin tone sensual experiences, not sliding while in the more dense emotional background of the usual tragic emotions and experiences. Thus, the impression of living together with characters from all the exciting moments views are not immersed in a world of low-frequency emotions, causing Tears of sadness and a deep inner turmoil, as it were, on the contrary purified tragic perception of plot through the subtle musical flow, while maintaining a soul is very nice memory, despite the severity and tragedy of the story. It seems to me that such an approach to the interpretation of the tragic life stories a higher fine and sublime sensual tone, distinguished from other Italian opera, in which the tragedy of the contrary is complemented by low-frequency emotional component of music, leaving the plot gentle touching and translating it into habitual listener of music and tragic emotions.
I liked Michael's company, the selection of voices, great job acting. We should also note the high quality of scenery and costumes. Despite the fact that the statement performed in a rather classical interpretation, however, with sets and costumes in the sense of renewal creative thought and profound work of artists.
As usual, went out as if on wings, receiving tremendous in its power boost of energy, vitality and spiritual joy, enjoying the truly amazing staging.
Information from Wikipedia
Richard, Earl of Warwick, governor of Boston (Gustav, King of Sweden) - tenor.
Amelia, Renato's wife - soprano.
Renato, Amelia's husband, Secretary Richard (Earl Ankarstrem) - baritone.
Oscar, the page - soprano.
Ulrika (Madame Arvidson), a fortune teller - a contralto.
Judge - tenor.
Sylvan (Christian) - tenor.
Samuel (Count Ribbing) - bass.
Tom (Count Horn) - bass.
[edit] Contents
Sweden, 1792 - or Boston, Massachusetts, the end XVII century.
Act I morning. Richard, governor of Massachusetts, receives visitors, among them - the enemies of Richard: Samuel and Tom, whose murmur mixed with universal praise of the governor (chorus «Posa in pace»; «Sleep, our Richard). Page Oscar brings Richard invitation list for the ball to be held shortly. Among those invited, and Amelia, wife of Secretary-General and other Creole governor Renato, with whom he is secretly in love («La rivedra nell'estasi»; «Once again though for moment, my love "). Renato tells Richard that Samuel and Tom are preparing a plot that threatens the life of the governor («Alla vita che t'arride»; «Remember, sir, with your destiny"). Then they, as well as Oscar and the judge sent to the mask to the black woman Ulrike, famed sorceress (final ensemble «Ogni cura si doni al biletto»; «with you at night to a fortune-teller I will go ").
Ulrika conjures in your home («Re dell'abisso»; «King of the Underworld, be thou to me"). Richard appears in the costume of a fisherman, but at this point, Silvano, Amelia's servant, asks to take his mistress. Ulrika stays alone with her. Richard, hiding, hears their conversation. Amelia recognizes that love and asks for her a potion that would have cured her of the crime of passion. Witch tells Amelia to go at night on a vacant lot, where executions are performed («Della citta all'occaso»; «If you go to the west), and collect magic herbs there. Once a young woman leaves, Richard asks him to predict the fate of Ulrike («Di tu se fedele»; «Tell me, does not threaten I have to storm the sea "). Ulrika said that he would die from the hands of another. Richard is skeptical («E scherzo od e follia»; «madness or a joke"). Witch warns Count that his killer will be first one to shake his hand. That person turns out to be Renato, and all convinced of the falsity of its predictions.
Act II Night. Desert field in the Boston area. The moon illuminates the silhouettes of the gallows. Amelia came here («Ecco l'orrido campo»; «Here it is, this field"). She is in love with Richard, and the thought of parting with him for her unbearable («Ma dall'arido stelo»; «I'll find a magical herb"). Richard appears and admits his love for her («Non sai tu che se l'anima mia»; «You do not know how the conscience severe "). With delight, he learns that Amelia loves it («Ah, qual soave brivido»; «Oh, those sweet words). Their idyll breaks unexpected arrival Renato: he warns Governor of imminent danger. Richard asked to take care of his lady while hiding the face under a veil, and runs (terzetto «Odi tu come fremono cupi»; «What's out there on the rock rustling"). Renato blocks the road to the conspirators, Amelia came to his rescue, accidentally opens his face. Samuel and Tom makes fun of Renato. He, burning thirst vengeance, negotiates with them about the meeting, intending to take part in the conspiracy.
Act III cabinet in the house of Renato. In depth - a portrait of Richard to his full height. Renato Amelia threatened with death, she requested to let her last time to hug his son («Morro, ma prima in grazia»; «Let me before I die"). The husband realizes that he must take revenge not for her, and the other a traitor and bitterly refers to a portrait («Eri tu che macchiavi quell'anima»; «You're poisoned soul poison"). Come to Samuel and Tom, and together with Renato decided to pull lots on them, killing the graph (terzetto «Dunque l'onta di tutti sol una»; «We brought our secret wound"). Renato makes Amelia remove the lot: it falls to her husband. Murder should occur during a fancy dress ball, and the conspirators had already relish the victory.
Cabinet Richard. He signed a decree under which Renato and his wife should move England («Forse la soglia attinse»; «That's right, she is at home"). Sad forebodings were driving his soul when he thinks about Amelia («Ma se m'e forza perderti»; «ever give up, we must").
From the hall came the music. Richard hurry to see his beloved («Si, rivederti Amelia»; «see you, Amelia"). Mingling with the crowd of guests, Renato learns of an Oscar, a a mask hid Richard. Amelia warns him of danger, both newly covered passion (duet «Ah! Perche qui! .. Fuggite», «T'amo, si, t'amo, e in lagrime»; «Oh, you are all here! Run! "," See, in tears, I pray thee "). Richard tells Amelia about the upcoming separation. When he says goodbye to her, Renato inflicts a mortal blow. Among general confusion Richard justifies Amelia («Ella e pura: in braccio a morte»; «Dying, I swear ... she is innocent"). He dies forgiving her killers
