DVD 10508 UN BALLO IN MASCHERA (Verdi)

This production is from Covent Garden in the 1974-5 seaon,I was lucky enough to see it,and thoroughly enjoyed it.Domingo is-well-Domingo,singing gloriously ,Ricciarelli is superb,Cappucilli also,Grist is pert as Oscar,but why no appgiatura(or even a Selma Kurtz trill-I'm sure Abbado would not have minded,Bainbridge was in training for her Erda by the sound of it!Production is traditional,if not historically correct as to Gustavus'proclivities.I loved it when I saw it in the flesh,and I love this DVD-a great night at the Opera!

Domingo appears to be about 32 years old, plus or minus a year or two, so I think this production is dated in the early to mid 1970's. The music and singing is fine...first rate. Also, the acting, sets, costumes, etc. A couple of things prevent me from giving it 5 starts (Superb on my scale). Act II is "Picking herbs at midnight".The lighting is almost non existent for the entire Act, 24 minutes. Sometimes you can barely see faces, other times not. Act III, the Ball Scene, the center of the stage is adequately lit but the sides are quite dim. The camera ranges from full stage to full body but no head and shoulder close ups. Subtitles are bright and clear but very scarce. Usually quite a few minutes go by before you get a subtitle. I like more. Overall, I liked it.