UN BALLO IN MASCHERA [Gustavus III]

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

Opera in three acts in Italian

Libretto: Antonio Somma

Premièr at Apollo Theatre, Rome  – 17 February 1859

03 January 1963

Staatsoper, Wien

Conductor: Giuseppe Patané

Chorus master: Richard Rossmayer

Stage director: Josef Gielen

Scene and costumes: Ita Maximowna
Choreography: Willy Franzl

Count Riccardo Governor of Warwick (Gustavus III) GIUSEPPE ZAMPIERI tenor

Amelia LEYLA GENCER soprano
Renato Secretary to the Governor (Anckarstroem) ALDO PROTTI baritone
Samuele (Count Ribbing) enemy of the Governer n/a bass
Tomaso (Count Horn) enemy of the Governer n/a bass
Silvano a sailor (Cristian) n/a baritone
Oscar a page OLIVERA MILJAKOVIC soprano
Ulrica a fortune-teller (Arvidson) GIULIETTA SIMIONATO mezzo-soprano

Time: Boston (USA) or Sweden

Place: End of Eighteenth Century or 1792

LA TRAVIATA

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

Opera in three acts in Italian
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave after Alexander Duma’s play La Dame aux Camélias
Premièr at Teatro la Fenice, Venice – 6 March 1853

17, 20 June 1957

Staatsoper, Wien

Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

Chorus master: Roberto Benaglio

Stage director: Mario Frigerio
Scene and costumes: Lila de Nobili
Choreographie: Luciana Novaro
Lighting: Albin Rotter

Alfredo Germont lover of Violetta GIANNI RAIMONDI tenor

Giorgio Germont his father ROLANDO PANERAI baritone
Gastone de Letorieres a young man about town MARIANO CARUSO tenor
Baron Douphol a rival of Alfredo ARTURO LA PORTA baritone
Marchese d’Obigny FRANCO CALABRESE bass
Giuseppe servant to Violetta ERICH MAJKUT tenor
Dr. Grenvil LJUBOMIR PANTSCEFF bass
Violetta Valery a courtesan LEYLA GENCER soprano
Flora Bervoix her friend SILVANA ZANOLLI mezzo-soprano
Annina Violetta’s confident and maid MARGARETA SJÖSTEDT soprano
Un commissionario HANS SCHWEIGER baritone
Un massaggero HARALD PRÖGLHÖF baritone

Time: 1850

Place: Paris and vicinity

CONTRACT FOR THE PERFORMANCES

1957.05.21

NEUER KURIER                                              

1957.06.21

HERBERT SCHNEIBER

The presence of Leyla Gencer is enchanting on the stage: she has a fine noble face and dignified movements. Although she doesn’t possess a big voice, yet she emits so special vibrations and she has such an emotional way of singing. The obvious purpose of the colours that she creates through her voice is: “creating warm tones”. She is a master of “agility” and has a clean, accurate intonation. Her voice is perfectly trained and she has mastery over both low and high ranges. 
And this is exactly how the Alexandre Dumas’ mundane protagonist supposed to be: an irresistible woman with an unusual magnetic charm. Her movements and behaviours are elegant, aristocratic. And in spite all, she is a natural person; a woman who has intellectual interests and knows how to embrace all her charming particularities. And her voice reflects all these characteristics perfectly.
Leyla Gencer’s voice may not be considered classically beautiful but its vibrations define its main quality. With her vocal technique and intelligence, she guides them perfectly. And this is how she manages to make audience cry or laugh, light a dramatic fire, spread warmness, sweetness and even distance when necessary. All these properties attribute a unique charm to her artistry and her voice.

CUMHURİYET DAILY NEWSPAPER                                       

1957.06.22

THE TIMES CALIFORNIA                                         

1957.08.15

TOSCA        

Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924)                                         

Opera in three acts in Italian
Text by Giacosa and Illica after the play by Sardou
Premièr at Teatro Castonzi, Roma – 14 January 1900

07 April 1961                                     

Staatsoper, Wien 

Conductor: Berislav Klobucar

Chorus master: Roberto Benaglio

Stage director: Margherita Wallmann

Scene and costumes: Nicola Benois

Floria Tosca a celebrated singer LEYLA GENCER soprano
Mario Cavaradossi a painter DIMITRY USUNOW tenor
Baron Scarpia Chief of Police ALDO PROTTI baritone
Cesare Angelotti a political prisoner KARL WEBER bass
A Sacristan KARL DÖNCH baritone
Spoletta a police agent KURT EQUILUZ tenor
Sciarrone a gendarme HARALD PRÖGLHÖF bass
Roberti FRITZ SIDL

A Gaoler FRANZ BIERBACH bass
A Shepherd Boy EIN SANGERKNABE contralto

Time: June 1800
Place: Rome

DON CARLOS

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

Opera in five acts in Italian
Libretto: G. Méry and C. du Locle after Schiller
Premièr at Opéra, Paris – 11 March 1867

15 November 1962

Staatsoper, Wien

Conductor: Ernst Marzendorfer
Chorus master: Richard Rossmayer
Stage director: Margarethe Wallmann
Scene and costumes: Georges Wakhevitsch

Elisabeth de Valois LEYLA GENCER soprano
Princess Eboli her lady-in-waiting BISERKA CVEJIC mezzo-soprano
Don Carlos heir to the Spanish throne GIUSEPPE ZAMPIERI tenor
Rodrigo Marquess of Posa ALDO PROTTI baritone
Philip II King of Spain NICOLA ZACCARIA bass
The Grand Inquisitor HANS HOTTER bass
A Monk TUGOMIR FRANC bass
Tebaldo LAURENCE DUTOIT soprano
La Contessa d’Aramberg ELFRIEDE HLIANK dancer
Count Lerma ERICH MAJKUT tenor
The Royal Herald SIEGFRIED RUDOLF ERESE tenor
A heavenly voice LISELOTTE MAIKL soprano
Flemish deputies: FRANZ BIERBACH, LJUBOMIR PANTSCHEFF, HARALD PRÖGLHÖF, HANS SCHWEIGER, NORBERT BALATSCH, KURT BERNHARD, HARALD BUCHSBAUM, RUDOLF ZIMMER

Time: Mid-Sixteenth Century
Place: France and Spain

OPERA MAGAZINE

1963 January

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA [Gustavus III]

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

Opera in three acts in Italian 

Libretto: Antonio Somma

Premièr at Apollo Theatre, Rome  – 17 February 1859

20 November 1962

Staatsoper, Wien

 

Conductor: Giuseppe Patané
Chorus master: Richard Rossmayer
Stage director: Josef Gielen
Scene and costumes: Ita Maximowna
Choreography: Willy Franzl
 
Count Riccardo Governor of Warwick (Gustavus III) GIUSEPPE ZAMPIERI tenor
Amelia LEYLA GENCER soprano
Renato Secretary to the Governor (Anckarstroem) ALDO PROTTI baritone
Samuele (Count Ribbing) enemy of the Governer TUGOMIR FRANC bass
Tomaso (Count Horn) enemy of the Governer FREDERICK GUTHRIE bass
Silvano a sailor (Cristian) SIEGRİED RUDOLF FRESE baritone
Oscar a page OLIVERA MILJAKOVIC soprano
Ulrica a fortune-teller (Arvidson) BISERKA CVRJIC mezzo-soprano

Time: Boston (USA)
Place: End of Eighteenth Century or 1792