Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian Opera Un ballo in maschera
Composed:1857-58
First Performance:February 17, 1859, Teatro Apollo, Rome (Italy)
Libretto:Antonio Somma, based on Scribe’s libretto to Auber’s opera Gustave III (1833)
Setting:Boston/New England, 17th century
Melodramatic Opera in 3 acts
The Main Characters in Un ballo in maschera
- Riccardo, Earl of Warwick, English colonial governor of Boston (tenor)
- Renato, Riccardo’s secretary (baritone)
- Amelia, Renato’s wife (soprano)
- Ulrica, a fortune-teller (contralto)
- Oscar, a page (soprano)
- Samuel, a murder conspirator (bass)
- Tom, a murder conspirator (bass)
Basic Plot Summary of Un ballo in maschera
Act I
Riccardo (Governor of Boston) is planning his guest list for an up-coming masked ball. (un ballo in maschera) Riccardo is in love with his secretary, Renato’s wife, Amelia. Renato warns Riccardo of an assassination plot. Amelia has visited a fortune-teller, Ulrica, to help her try and forget the feelings that she has for Riccardo. Later, Riccardo and Renato (both in disguise) also visit Ulrica because there is a petition to have her exiled. Ulrica tells Reccardo that the next person that he shakes hands with will be the person who kills him. Riccardo and Renato laugh, and Riccardo shakes Renato’s hand.
Act II
Amelia and Riccardo meet and confess their love for one-another. Renato arrives to warn Riccardo of the plotting gang outside that awaits him. Amelia covers her face, hoping that her husband will not recognize her being there as Riccardo’s lover. Riccardo asks Renato to take Amelia, but to not reveal her face to anyone. Samuel and Tom come. There is confusion and Amelia’s identity is revealed. Renato vows vengeance against Riccardo, and decides to side with the co-conspirators.
Act III
Renato joins Tom and Samuel in their assassination plot for later at the masked ball. The three are going to draw lots to see who shall be the one to kill Riccardo. They all put their names in a hat and Renato forces Amelia to be the one to draw the name. She draws her husband’s name, Renato. Riccardo decides that he should send Renato and Amelia back to England as envoys. Riccardo wants to see Amelia one more time before they leave to tell them that he is sending them off. Riccardo ignores the warning that he should not attend the masked ball. (ballo in maschera) Amelia sees and recognizes her lover, Riccardo, at the ball. She pleads with him to leave at once. Renato appears and shoots Riccardo in the back. Riccardo tells Renato that his Amelia was innocent and pardons the assassins. Riccardo dies, begging that his death not be avenged.
If you like Un ballo in maschera, here are some other operas written by Verdi:
- Nabucco
- I Lombardi alla prima crociata
- Ernani
- Attila
- Macbeth
- Luisa Miller
- Rigoletto
- Il Trovatore
- La Traviata
- Simon Boccanegra
- Un ballo in maschera
- La forza del destino
- Don Carlos
- Aida
- Otello
- Falstaff
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