The season premiere of Un ballo in maschera by Guiseppe Verdi at Covent Garden, in the production from 2005, staged by Mario Martone and conducted by Maurizio Benini. Where the history is moved to Boston. As it was forced by the censors, who didnt like that the Swedish King should be killed by one of his own, at a Carneval at the Stockholm Opera house. The leading role is splendid sung by the famous tenor Ramon Vargas.

Mr. Vargas dont have the biggest voie, but his voice is, according to the critic in Financial Timas, Richard Farman, closer to what Verdi himself might have been expected. Mr. Vargas never forces his tone, phrases with elegance, and sings with a heartfelt tenderness. Which, still according to mr. Farmer, makes Riccardo, the insouciant governor, a real charmer.

In fact, this is an interesting observation. As some singers are screaming to be heard for their big voices, the audience and many critics are appreciating more tender, beautiful voices, who are closer to the role, and gives a better performance, because, it is not an organ with big power we have come to hear, we want to meet a person, playing and performing the role so we can belive in it. This is theater magic.

It is theefore interesting that Mr. Farmer too is notising that the two other leading roles, Angela Marambio as Amelia and Dalibor Jenis as Renato both are having big voices and deplo them like weapons of mass destruction! Marambios singing lacks suppleness and beauty. That dont all ways give us theater magic. As Oscar Anna Christy, and as Ulrika Elena Manistina.

Here we are back to an important issue in the opera world. The importance of a voice which is big enough to being heard, is a must at an opera house. The quality of what is being performed and sung is too very important, therefore the casting is a special and demanding art. I prefer to listen to singers who gives me the trustfully performance, so I am going home not only with the beautiful music singing in my ears, but too, with the feeling that the performers, inclusive the choir and the orchestra has given me soem thing extra ordinary. If I shall only meet big powerfull voices, I can stay at home and play CD or DVD, where I can regulate the power of the sound exactly as I want to do. Then I dont get the theater magic.

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA is being performed this season at The Royal Opera Covent Garden between June 26th to July 17th 2009. The coming dates are July 2. 5. 8. 11. 17.