Un ballo in maschera is a poignant love story between two complex, mature characters torn between their desires, loyalties and the inevitable consequences of their choices. In this production, stage director Vincent Boussart delves deeply into the theme of masks, revealing a rich interplay of drama and comedy, human duplicity, lies and truth. “The two male protagonists, Piotr Beczala as Riccardo and Carlos Alvarez as Renato, were the outstanding performances for the evening.” (Bachtrack) “A deeply moving play of masquerade and humanity” (El País)

Riccardo Chailly leads the Gewandhausorchester in this production of Verdi's opera recorded live at the Leipzig Opera in 2005.

The soloists include Massimo Pisapia, Franco Vassallo, Chiara Taigi and Annamaria Chiuri.

In this recording Riccardo Chailly directs Verdi's Un ballo in maschera for the first time in his function as General Music Director of the Leipzig Oper on the 2nd of November 2005. Un ballo in maschera is as exciting as a thriller, but with a passion that can only be experienced in a Verdi opera. It stands to reason that only a man of equal passion would have the ability of bringing this spectacle to the stage adequately. The Italian film director Ermanno Olmi born in Bergamo in 1931 is an exception in Italian cinema. The stage design is being created by the sculptor Arnaldo Pomodore, One can only wait for the first collaboration of these three Italian artists in Leipzig!