Photo Journal: Un ballo in maschera, with Vargas, at Covent Garden

By PlaybillArts Staff
15 Jul 2009

Ramуn Vargas
photo by Catherine Ashmore

With all of the buzz surrounding a few of its other well-received summer productions, the Royal Opera House's largely-priased Un ballo in maschera has threatened to be lost in the fray. The production - celebrated primarily for a stellar Ramуn Vargas showing - finishes its run July 17.

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This staging is a revival of the once-controversial 2005 Mario Martone incarnation, which transplants the action to Civil War-era United States. After some adjustments to the concept over the past four years, critics seem to agree that the current showing more effectively brings out the political and moral intricacies at the heart of the original work. Under the skilled baton of Maurizio Benini, the final performance cast includes Ramуn Vargas as Riccardo, Angela Marambio as Amelia, Dalibor Jenis as Renato, Elena Manistina as Ulrica as Anna Christy as Oscar, Giovanni Battista Parodi as Sam, Vuyani Mlinde as Tom, Changhan Lim as Silvano and Martyn Hill as Minister of Justice.
The Verdi classic plays its final performance July 17 at 7 PM. For tickets and information, visit Royal Opera House.

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All photos by Catherine Ashmore.
Elena Manistina



Angela Marambio and Elena Manistina



Angela Marambio

Dalibor Jenis


The cast of Un ballo in maschera



Ramon Vargas and ensemble



Angela Marambio and Ramon Vargas



Dalibor Jenis and Angela Marambio



Dalibor Jenis and Vuyani Mlinde



Dalibor Jenis



The cast of Un ballo in maschera