New Take on Verdi’s Tragicomic Masterpiece

Maestro Marek Janowski, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo and the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir present Giuseppe Verdi’s A Masked Ball (Un ballo in maschera), together with a stellar cast, headed by Freddie De Tommaso (Riccardo), Lester Lynch (Renato) and Saioa Hernández (Amelia). Un ballo in maschera is Verdi’s tragicomic masterpiece, in which the composer skillfully switches gears between the light and tragic, as well as between his earlier and more mature style. As such, it is both an entertaining and highly sophisticated work.

The three main soloists are all seasoned Verdi interpreters, while Janowski approaches this ingenuous score with his eye for symphonic architecture, resulting in a performance that is lively and balanced. The international cast of this recording is completed by Elisabeth Kulman (Ulrica), Annika Gerhards (Oscar), Kevin Short (Samuel), Adam Lau (Tom), Jean-Luc Ballestra (Silvano), and Samy Camps (Giudice/Servo).

Job Maarse, Managing Director and Producer, San Francisco Classical Recording Company said ““I was delighted to hear that Native DSD is releasing the Ballo in maschera recording exclusively early for their Plus Members. As founding father of Pentatone, and now Managing Director and Producer of the San Francisco Classical Recording Company, I have always recorded my projects with the DSD system, which gives by far the most advanced superior sound quality. This opera recording, with great soloists, a fantastic choir, a brilliant orchestra and conducted by maestro Marek Janowski, gives you the opportunity to hear how fantastic DSD is. Enjoy!”

Marek Janowski is one of the most celebrated conductors of our time, and has a vast discography, mostly consisting of German operas and symphonic works. After Cavalleria rusticana and Il Tabarro (both 2020).

Lester Lynch also has starred in many opera recordings, including Otello (2017), Cavalleria rusticana and Il Tabarro (both 2020), as well as La Fanciulla del West, Madama Butterfly (both 2021), and La Traviata (2022).

The Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir has featured on several opera recordings, while the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo appeared on Arabella Steinbacher’s Fantasies, Rhapsodies & Daydreams (2016). Freddie De Tommaso and Saioa Hernández make their Pentatone debut.

Freddie De Tommaso (Riccardo)
Lester Lynch (Renato)
Saioa Hernandez (Amelia)
Elisabeth Kulman (Ulrica)
Annika Gerhards (Oscar)
Kevin Short (Samuel)
Adam Lau (Tom)
Jean-Luc Ballestra (Silvano)
Samy Camps (Giudice/Servo).
Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir
Orchestre Philharmonique De Monte Carlo
Marek Janowski, Conductor