13.02.2019
The 55th Ball
On 17 February, Un ballo in maschera will be performed for the 55th time — a testimony to the fact that Giuseppe Verdi’s creation is one of the most popular works on our operatic calendar. The number five is also a subtle reminder that there are five main vocal roles in this opera. Un ballo in maschera is one of those productions which allow the public to fully appreciate the quality of the company and the skill of the singers, from the coloratura soprano to the baritone.
Un ballo in maschera, which is considered the pinnacle of Verdi’s creativity, was first performed at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in 2010. Stage director Andrejs Žagars and designer Andris Freibergs called the period in which it is set „the beginning of the twentieth century, when empires collapsed, and traditional lifestyles disappeared with them“. The art nouveau aesthetics of the era find their clearest expression in the wonderful costumes. The work of Kristine Pasternaka, a couturier famous across Europe, was compared by the press to an elegant fashion show. A seamless combination of showmanship and high musical quality, the production has won praise from a broader audience than just the people of St. Petersburg. It made an appearance at the international opera festival in Minsk, while in the Finnish town of Savonlinna, it caused a real sensation: the production fitted perfectly into the space of a medieval fortress, where it was performed against a backdrop of blazing torches.
Un ballo in maschera, which is considered the pinnacle of Verdi’s creativity, was first performed at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in 2010. Stage director Andrejs Žagars and designer Andris Freibergs called the period in which it is set „the beginning of the twentieth century, when empires collapsed, and traditional lifestyles disappeared with them“. The art nouveau aesthetics of the era find their clearest expression in the wonderful costumes. The work of Kristine Pasternaka, a couturier famous across Europe, was compared by the press to an elegant fashion show. A seamless combination of showmanship and high musical quality, the production has won praise from a broader audience than just the people of St. Petersburg. It made an appearance at the international opera festival in Minsk, while in the Finnish town of Savonlinna, it caused a real sensation: the production fitted perfectly into the space of a medieval fortress, where it was performed against a backdrop of blazing torches.
