Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi)
Aug. 22nd, 2018 05:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cahnSo, a not-quite-love-triangle (Verdi has super spoiled me! I was like, where are the family relationships??) with Gustavo, the King of Sweden; his best friend and secretary Renato; and Renato's wife Amelia. (Because of Censors, Gustavo started out as Riccardo, the Governor of Boston, which is totally awesome. But both my audio and video experiences were with Sweden instead of Boston.)
(Note: D got hold of this post while I was writing it. I think I have scrubbed his comments, but if there's anything about Mr. Bennett or cosmonauts I am blaming him!)
I listened to Un Ballo in Maschera in Opera in English (which was fine -- not one of the strongest, but not the weakest either) and borrowed from RL opera friend the Salzburg 1990 production with Domingo as Gustavo, Josephine Barstow as Amelia, Leo Nucci as Renato/Anckarstrom, Florence Quivar as Ulrica, and Sumi Jo as Oscar. This one was wonderful and I am seriously thinking about buying my own copy.
My watching experience went something like this:
Production: *has lavish traditional sets and elaborate period costumes and is basically the furthest thing from a regie production possible*
Me: So I'm watching this Met production --
alcanis_ivennil: No, it's Salzburg.
My brain: *explodes*
Plácido Domingo: *sings*
Me: Ah, it's Domingo again! Hi! I like you! You're noticeably older than everything else I've seen you in as a tenor, and noticeably younger than everything I see clips of as you as a baritone! I am a little weirded out by this!
Leo Nucci: *sings, acts*
Me: ...wow. You are awesome and I want to see everything you've ever done.
Sumi Jo: *sings*
Me: WHOA WHAT WAS THAT. How are you so perfectly matched up with the orchestra underneath you on all those trills and runs and so sparkly?? Are you a vocalist or a string instrument?? How do you even do that? Are you even breathing??
Renato: Gustavo, you have to be careful because our country would be soooo badly off if you died! Also because you're my best friend!
Me: ....apparently I have even more of a loyalty kink than I thought. I'm already totally a huge fan of Renato!
Gustavo: Nonsense, everyone loooooves me so I'll be fine! Also I think I'll go check out this fortuneteller Ulrica who apparently talks to Satan, because as the king of the country this is totally the best use of my time.
Me: On the other hand, Renato, I am not sure I agree with you that the country would be so badly off without Gustavo.
Amelia: I'm married to Renato, but alas, I am in love with Gustavo!
Me: ...I don't know if you've noticed, Amelia, but your husband is way hotter than Gustavo. I'm just saying.
Amelia: I have to pick this herb next to the gallows at midnightfor Plot Reasons so that I can be cured of my love for Gustavo. EEK WHAT WAS THAT.
Gustavo: It's me! I followed you here because I am a tenor, and stalking is a Thing That Tenors do! Amelia, tell me you love me!
Amelia: No!
Gustavo: I am gonna keep pestering you until you do!
Amelia: I love you!
Gustavo: Let remorse and friendship be destroyed within my breast! Let all be dead except my love!
Amelia and Gustavo: *kiss*
Gustavo: *is totally trying to feel her up*
Me: ...so, I have listened to this before watching and I know Gustavo and Amelia are supposed to be innocent, but Gustavo is sure not sounding AT ALL innocent right now and he's definitely not looking very innocent and I am really on Renato's side emotionally even if intellectually I know he shouldn't be going around killing people --
Renato: Aaaaand here I am!
Amelia: *hastily veils herself*
Renato: Gustavo, you should leave so the conspirators don't kill you.
Amelia: You should leave.
Gustavo: Clearly I should not leave.
Renato, Amelia, and me: JUST GO, OKAY??
D, wandering by: It's time for the conspirators to show up, right? Since this is an opera, they are probably in league with the fortune-teller.
Me: NO THEY'RE NOT. Ulrica is totally blameless! Well, except for that whole talking with Satan thing.
Conspirators: Who's that lady? *Amelia is unveiled* Oh, Renato, it's your wife! Ha ha! You were having a little honeymoon tryst! Next to the gallows at midnight!
Renato: *is completely and utterly crushed while the conspirators laugh*
Me: RENATO! :(
In Renato's house:
6-year-old-kid: *sits on steps waiting for mom and dad to get home*
Me: Kid, go to bed! It must be, like, 1am!
Renato: Blood must flow, and you must die.
Kid: *has had enough of mom and dad fighting, runs up the stairs to bed*
Me: Poor kid! *is relieved he is no longer around*
Renato: *his hands go to Amelia's throat for a split second*
Renato: *flinches away*
Renato: *backs away to the other side of the room, totally horrified at himself*
Amelia: You would kill me! At least let me hug my child.
Renato: *you didn't actually have to sing that aria, Amelia, I wasn't going to actually kill you!*
Me: ...I know this is all Nucci/the direction rather than libretto, but this is all totally going in my headcanon anyway.
Renato: But I am really upset, and I'm going to channel all that rage into being upset with Gustavo!
Videographer: *dramatic closeup on this EXTREMELY HUGE portrait of Gustavo that's in their house but which has not been hitherto focused on*
Me: ...WHY DO THEY HAVE AN EXTREMELY HUGE PORTRAIT OF GUSTAVO IN THEIR HOUSE. I THINK I SEE THE PROBLEM.
Videographer: *keeps doing DRAMATIC CLOSEUPS on the portrait as Renato sings*
Me: *feels guilty about laughing while Renato is so upset*
Gustavo: I guess I will sign this order to have Renato and Amelia return to their home country, that way she and I won't do anything any more awful than have an emotional affair. And kiss. But that's as far as we went! Could have been much worse!
Me: Yeah, but...
Letter from Amelia: Don't go to the ball, conspirators will kill you!
Gustavo: This clearly means I should go to the ball! Also, then my heart will burn for love with Amelia! This is a good thing, right?
Me: DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO ANYONE, GUSTAVO.
At the ball:
Oscar: *is sweet and cute as she's been this whole time*
Renato: Oscar, what is Gustavo dressed as?
Oscar: I won't tell! Ha ha!
Renato: It's important!
Oscar: A black cape with a pink ribbon.
Me: NOOOOOOO, Renato, you know I love you but how could you do that to my sweet Oscar??
Amelia: Gustavo, how many times it is now that someone has told you that conspirators are going to kill you. Add +1 to that.
Gustavo: Another opportunity for me to declare that I won't be cowardly and leave! Add +1 to that.
Me: Gustavo, are you the most exasperating person ever or what?!
Everyone else who has ever watched an opera: HE IS A TENOR.
Gustavo: Also, you are going back to your native land. Also, let us have a very emotional and also rather touchy farewell.
Me: I... mean... you don't know that Renato has discovered the lady you were with was Amelia, but this... is not a good idea, this is going to make him feel even worse --
Renato: *shoots Gustavo*
Oscar: *is devastated*
Me: Oscar!! :((((((((
Gustavo: I didn't have sex with your wife!
Me: I don't know, if I were dying and the thing I thought of to say was whether I was or wasn't having an affair with someone's spouse, I'd be really suspicious of that...
Renato: *agrees with me; very obviously does not believe Gustavo*
Gustavo: See, look, I wrote an order saying you guys should go back to your native land! *hands it to Amelia, who tearfully hands it to Renato*
Renato: *for some reason now believes Gustavo and is totally upset*
Everyone: *is upset*
Gustavo: I am still ruler here (until I die) and I pardon everyone! Farewell, belovedAmerica Sweden! *dies*
Me: Verdi, you... got me to like Gustavo at the end even though I've been exasperated at him this entire time... NOT FAIR VERDI.
(Note: D got hold of this post while I was writing it. I think I have scrubbed his comments, but if there's anything about Mr. Bennett or cosmonauts I am blaming him!)
I listened to Un Ballo in Maschera in Opera in English (which was fine -- not one of the strongest, but not the weakest either) and borrowed from RL opera friend the Salzburg 1990 production with Domingo as Gustavo, Josephine Barstow as Amelia, Leo Nucci as Renato/Anckarstrom, Florence Quivar as Ulrica, and Sumi Jo as Oscar. This one was wonderful and I am seriously thinking about buying my own copy.
My watching experience went something like this:
Production: *has lavish traditional sets and elaborate period costumes and is basically the furthest thing from a regie production possible*
Me: So I'm watching this Met production --
alcanis_ivennil: No, it's Salzburg.My brain: *explodes*
Plácido Domingo: *sings*
Me: Ah, it's Domingo again! Hi! I like you! You're noticeably older than everything else I've seen you in as a tenor, and noticeably younger than everything I see clips of as you as a baritone! I am a little weirded out by this!
Leo Nucci: *sings, acts*
Me: ...wow. You are awesome and I want to see everything you've ever done.
Sumi Jo: *sings*
Me: WHOA WHAT WAS THAT. How are you so perfectly matched up with the orchestra underneath you on all those trills and runs and so sparkly?? Are you a vocalist or a string instrument?? How do you even do that? Are you even breathing??
Renato: Gustavo, you have to be careful because our country would be soooo badly off if you died! Also because you're my best friend!
Me: ....apparently I have even more of a loyalty kink than I thought. I'm already totally a huge fan of Renato!
Gustavo: Nonsense, everyone loooooves me so I'll be fine! Also I think I'll go check out this fortuneteller Ulrica who apparently talks to Satan, because as the king of the country this is totally the best use of my time.
Me: On the other hand, Renato, I am not sure I agree with you that the country would be so badly off without Gustavo.
Amelia: I'm married to Renato, but alas, I am in love with Gustavo!
Me: ...I don't know if you've noticed, Amelia, but your husband is way hotter than Gustavo. I'm just saying.
Amelia: I have to pick this herb next to the gallows at midnight
Gustavo: It's me! I followed you here because I am a tenor, and stalking is a Thing That Tenors do! Amelia, tell me you love me!
Amelia: No!
Gustavo: I am gonna keep pestering you until you do!
Amelia: I love you!
Gustavo: Let remorse and friendship be destroyed within my breast! Let all be dead except my love!
Amelia and Gustavo: *kiss*
Gustavo: *is totally trying to feel her up*
Me: ...so, I have listened to this before watching and I know Gustavo and Amelia are supposed to be innocent, but Gustavo is sure not sounding AT ALL innocent right now and he's definitely not looking very innocent and I am really on Renato's side emotionally even if intellectually I know he shouldn't be going around killing people --
Renato: Aaaaand here I am!
Amelia: *hastily veils herself*
Renato: Gustavo, you should leave so the conspirators don't kill you.
Amelia: You should leave.
Gustavo: Clearly I should not leave.
Renato, Amelia, and me: JUST GO, OKAY??
D, wandering by: It's time for the conspirators to show up, right? Since this is an opera, they are probably in league with the fortune-teller.
Me: NO THEY'RE NOT. Ulrica is totally blameless! Well, except for that whole talking with Satan thing.
Conspirators: Who's that lady? *Amelia is unveiled* Oh, Renato, it's your wife! Ha ha! You were having a little honeymoon tryst! Next to the gallows at midnight!
Renato: *is completely and utterly crushed while the conspirators laugh*
Me: RENATO! :(
In Renato's house:
6-year-old-kid: *sits on steps waiting for mom and dad to get home*
Me: Kid, go to bed! It must be, like, 1am!
Renato: Blood must flow, and you must die.
Kid: *has had enough of mom and dad fighting, runs up the stairs to bed*
Me: Poor kid! *is relieved he is no longer around*
Renato: *his hands go to Amelia's throat for a split second*
Renato: *flinches away*
Renato: *backs away to the other side of the room, totally horrified at himself*
Amelia: You would kill me! At least let me hug my child.
Renato: *you didn't actually have to sing that aria, Amelia, I wasn't going to actually kill you!*
Me: ...I know this is all Nucci/the direction rather than libretto, but this is all totally going in my headcanon anyway.
Renato: But I am really upset, and I'm going to channel all that rage into being upset with Gustavo!
Videographer: *dramatic closeup on this EXTREMELY HUGE portrait of Gustavo that's in their house but which has not been hitherto focused on*
Me: ...WHY DO THEY HAVE AN EXTREMELY HUGE PORTRAIT OF GUSTAVO IN THEIR HOUSE. I THINK I SEE THE PROBLEM.
Videographer: *keeps doing DRAMATIC CLOSEUPS on the portrait as Renato sings*
Me: *feels guilty about laughing while Renato is so upset*
Gustavo: I guess I will sign this order to have Renato and Amelia return to their home country, that way she and I won't do anything any more awful than have an emotional affair. And kiss. But that's as far as we went! Could have been much worse!
Me: Yeah, but...
Letter from Amelia: Don't go to the ball, conspirators will kill you!
Gustavo: This clearly means I should go to the ball! Also, then my heart will burn for love with Amelia! This is a good thing, right?
Me: DO YOU EVER LISTEN TO ANYONE, GUSTAVO.
At the ball:
Oscar: *is sweet and cute as she's been this whole time*
Renato: Oscar, what is Gustavo dressed as?
Oscar: I won't tell! Ha ha!
Renato: It's important!
Oscar: A black cape with a pink ribbon.
Me: NOOOOOOO, Renato, you know I love you but how could you do that to my sweet Oscar??
Amelia: Gustavo, how many times it is now that someone has told you that conspirators are going to kill you. Add +1 to that.
Gustavo: Another opportunity for me to declare that I won't be cowardly and leave! Add +1 to that.
Me: Gustavo, are you the most exasperating person ever or what?!
Everyone else who has ever watched an opera: HE IS A TENOR.
Gustavo: Also, you are going back to your native land. Also, let us have a very emotional and also rather touchy farewell.
Me: I... mean... you don't know that Renato has discovered the lady you were with was Amelia, but this... is not a good idea, this is going to make him feel even worse --
Renato: *shoots Gustavo*
Oscar: *is devastated*
Me: Oscar!! :((((((((
Gustavo: I didn't have sex with your wife!
Me: I don't know, if I were dying and the thing I thought of to say was whether I was or wasn't having an affair with someone's spouse, I'd be really suspicious of that...
Renato: *agrees with me; very obviously does not believe Gustavo*
Gustavo: See, look, I wrote an order saying you guys should go back to your native land! *hands it to Amelia, who tearfully hands it to Renato*
Renato: *for some reason now believes Gustavo and is totally upset*
Everyone: *is upset*
Gustavo: I am still ruler here (until I die) and I pardon everyone! Farewell, beloved
Me: Verdi, you... got me to like Gustavo at the end even though I've been exasperated at him this entire time... NOT FAIR VERDI.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-23 03:59 am (UTC)A lot of my reactions are similar to yours. I wrote a silly plot summary of this opera about, um, ten years ago now, good Lord. (https://zdenka.dreamwidth.org/1340164.html)
I'm much more sympathetic to Renato than Riccardo in this opera (barring the whole murder bit). Renato is loyal and a good friend (until Riccardo abuses his loyalty), and Riccardo really isn't. And Riccardo is really exasperating in his refusal to listen when people are telling him sensible things.
Oscar is really charming. I'm currently having a mental block on what I've seen or heard Sumi Jo in, but my first reaction to seeing her name was "yes, she's amazing!" so she definitely impressed me in something.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-23 05:23 am (UTC)It is really a little frightening how much more sympathy I have for Renato than for Riccardo, given that Renato kills him in the end (and I knew that going in). But like you say Renato is totally loyal and a good friend (and I have all kinds of loyalty kink going on there as well), and Riccardo is just SO exasperating and I really believe that if Renato hadn't showed up right then in the graveyard, that Riccardo would have totally gotten it on with Amelia (or at least tried). (I mean, what else am I supposed to take from Oh sia distrutto il rimorso, l’amicizia nel mio seno: estinto tutto, tutto sia fuorché l’amor!) It probably also didn't help that I watched this right after Forza, so going from a terribly sweet tenor directly to a really exasperating one was a bit of whiplash.
This is also why I found it so impressive that you made me believe in the friendship from both sides in your fic! So I started writing that I think I would have loved the opera more if Riccardo had been worthy of Renato's devotion -- but actually given that there's this whole betrayal theme I think it would have been more painful and harder to watch. I guess what I really want is More Operas with Best Friends Who Are Awesome And Don't Betray Each Other, gosh darn it.
The only other thing I've heard with Sumi Jo is that my first Zauberflote recording (Solti) had her as the Queen of the Night, though I don't listen to that recording much (I bought it a long time ago, before I really understood what I wanted). But I do remember her being good!
Ohhhh, your plot summary is awesome!
no subject
Date: 2018-08-23 05:47 am (UTC)Yeah. I just wind up with a feeling of "Renato deserved a better king/employer and friend." And I agree, Amelia might have stopped him but I don't think Riccardo would have stopped.
Thank you, I'm glad that fic worked for you! I think partly I needed to make myself see what Renato could have seen in Riccardo, or I wouldn't have been able to write convincing shipfic for my recipient.
Hmm. Now I'm trying to think of operas with good pairs of friends, besides Don Carlo. There's La Clemenza di Tito, sort of -- Sesto betrays Tito but he and Annio don't betray each other? Or Gennaro and Orsino in Lucrezia Borgia -- they're tenor and mezzo rather than tenor and baritone, but they do have a great friendship duet.
Oh, that's jogging my memory -- I think I might have her on a Mozart highlights CD. I should go look for that later.
Thanks, glad you like it.!I know I have some other silly opera plot summaries on my LJ/DW, but I don't seem to have made a special tag for them.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-24 05:19 am (UTC)Ooh, yay! Although of course I love baritones, I am willing to take any flavor of voices as friends who don't betray each other. Hmm, this may be part of why I like Nozze, and the women of Nozze -- Susanna and the Countess, and Susanna and Cherubino, are both pairs of friends who don't really have a whole lot of angst involved between them. (Well, okay, Cherubino also wants to get in her pants, but I kind of don't take that seriously because no one else does, including Cherubino and Susanna themselves.)
...I will have to go look for those silly opera plot summaries sometime :P :)