Un ballo in maschera

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Un ballo in maschera

Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball), is an opera

Opera

Opera is an Performing arts in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work which combines a text and a musical score. Opera is part of the Western classical music tradition....
in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic music composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers in the 19th century....
with text by Antonio Somma

Antonio Somma

Antonio Somma was an Italy librettist who wrote the text of Un ballo in maschera for Giuseppe Verdi. Under Verdi's supervision, he also wrote the libretto for Re Lear, a project that Verdi never realised....
. The opera's first production was at the Teatro Apollo, Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
, February 17, 1859.

The opera is based on the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden

Gustav III of Sweden

Gustav III was Monarchy of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, sister of Frederick the Great....
, but is not historically accurate. During its composition, Verdi was asked by government censors

Censorship

Censorship is the suppression of freedom of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable, harmful or sensitive, as determined by a censor....
to make many changes to the opera due to its politically sensitive subject matter.

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Encyclopedia

Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball), is an opera

Opera

Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic music composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers in the 19th century....
with text by Antonio Somma

Antonio Somma

Rome

Gustav III of Sweden

Censorship

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is the State capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region, and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England." Boston city proper had a 2007 est...
.

Despite its tragic conclusion, Un ballo in maschera has many moments of the brilliance and irony associated with comedy

Comedy

Comedy as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse generally intended to amuse, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western culture origins are found in Ancient Greece....
— a mixture which has led critics to label it "Shakespearean."

Genesis of the opera: censorship and contention

In 1792, the King of Sweden, Gustav III, was killed, the result of a political conspiracy against him. He was shot while attending a masked ball and died 13 days later from his wounds. It is on this episode that Verdi’s Masked Ball is loosely based; however, very little historical truth is contained in Verdi’s opera.

In 1833, the French playwright Eugène Scribe

Eugène Scribe

Augustin Eug?ne Scribe , was a French dramatist and librettist. He is best known for the perfection of the so-called "well-made play" . This dramatic formula was a mainstay of popular theater for over 100 years....
wrote about Gustav in a play called Gustave III. He retained the names of some of the historical figures involved, the conspiracy, and the killing at the masked ball. The rest of the play — the characterizations, the romance, the fortune-telling, etc. — is Scribe’s invention; and it is Scribe’s play that is the source of the story in Verdi’s opera.

Scribe’s play was well known and had been used by other composers, including Auber

Daniel Auber

Daniel Fran?ois Esprit Auber was a French composer....
, as the basis for operas. However, the censors were still wary of it, since it showed the assassination of a king in a recent period of European history. During composition, the censors in Naples

Naples

Naples is a city in southern Italy, the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples. The city is known for its rich history, art, culture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,800 years old....
, where Verdi’s opera was to be performed, required extensive changes, eventually demanding more alterations than the composer was willing to make. Therefore, he broke his contract and was sued by the management of the Teatro San Carlo, thus provoking him to lodge a counter-claim against the theater for damages. Eventually, the legal fight ended with the house's charges being withdrawn, freeing Verdi to offer the opera to the Rome Opera

Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

The Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an opera house in Rome, Italy. Originally opened in November 1880 as the 2,212 seat Costanzi Theatre, it has undergone several changes of name as well modifications and improvements....
house.

But the Roman censors also wanted to make changes. Finally it was agreed that the setting would be moved from Europe, and the rank of the leading character would be reduced from king to colonial governor. So it was that the setting of the opera is Boston during the British colonial period, and the leading character is Riccardo, the Count (or Earl) of Warwick.

Performance history

This opera was first seen in New York its US premiere on 11 February 1861 and in the UK on 15 June of that year. In the 20th century, especially after a 1935 production in Copenhagen

Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban area with a population of 1,153,615 . Copenhagen is situated on the Islands of Zealand and Amager....
, many modern stagings have restored the original Swedish setting and characters´ names.

Today, the opera is performed regularly.

Roles

Role	Voice type	Premiere Cast, 17 February 1859 (Conductor: - )
Riccardo, Earl of Warwick and governor of Boston (or Gustavo, King of Sweden)	tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male voice type and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between the C one octave below middle C to the A above in choral music, and up to high C in solo work....	Gaetano Fraschini
Amelia, wife of Renato, in love with Riccardo	soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody....	Eugenia Julienne-Dejean
Renato (or Count Anckarström), husband of Amelia and Riccardo's secretary	baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of European classical music male voice type that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice....	Leone Giraldoni Leone Giraldoni Leone Giraldoni was a celebrated Italian operatic baritone. He created the title roles of Donizetti's Le duc d'Albe and Verdi's Simon Boccanegra as well as the role of Renato in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera ....
Oscar, a Page	soprano	Pamela Scotti
Ulrica (or Madame Arvidson Ulrica Arfvidsson Anna Ulrica Arfvidsson , was a Swedish fortune-teller during the reign of Gustav III of Sweden. She was commonly known as "Mamsell Arfvidsson" .... ), a fortune-teller	contralto Contralto In music, a contralto is a type of European classical music female voice type with a vocal range somewhere between a tenor and a mezzo-soprano. The term is used to refer to the deepest female singing voice....	Zelina Sbriscia
A judge	tenor	Giuseppe Bazzoli
Silvano (or Cristiano)	bass	Stefano Santucci
Amelia’s servant	tenor	Luigi Fossi
Samuel (or Count Ribbing)	bass	Cesare Rossi
Tom (or Count Horn)	bass	Giovanni Bernardoni

Synopsis

Place, Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....
or Boston, Massachusetts

Boston, Massachusetts

Time, Sweden: 1792, or Boston: the end of the 17th century.

Act 1

Scene 1: A public audience at Riccardo’s palace, attended by his supporters, but also by his enemies who hope for his downfall

Riccardo reviews the list of guests who will attend an upcoming masked ball. He is elated to see on the list the name of the woman he loves – Amelia, the wife of his friend and advisor, Renato. (Aria: La rivedrà nell'estasi / "With rapture I shall look upon her"). When Renato arrives, he tries to warn Riccardo about the growing conspiracy against him (aria: Alla vita che t'arride / "To the life with which you are favoured"), but Riccardo refuses to listen to his words.

Next, Riccardo is presented with a complaint against a fortune-teller named Ulrica, accused of witchcraft. A magistrate calls for her banishment, but Oscar the page defends her (Aria: Volta la terrea / "That tense countenance"). Riccardo resolves to investigate for himself and tells the members of the court to disguise themselves and to meet him at Ulrica’s lodging later that day.

Scene 2: At Ulrica’s dwelling

Ulrica summons her magical powers: Re dell'abisso, affrettati / "King of the abyss make haste". Disguised as a fisherman, Riccardo arrives before the others. when he realizes that Amelia is coming to see Ulrica, he hides and watches. Alone with Ulrica, Amelia confesses that she is tormented by her love for Riccardo, and asks for a means to bring peace to her heart. Ulrica tells her to gather a certain herb with magical powers; Riccardo resolves to be there when she does so. Amelia leaves.

Now Riccardo presents himself again, along with all of the courtiers, and asks to have his fortune told. (Aria: Di' tu se fedele / "Say whether the sea Awaits me faithfully"). Ulrica reveals that he will be killed by the next man who shakes his hand. He laughingly dismisses her prophecy and offers his hand to the courtiers, who refuse to take it. Renato arrives and shakes Riccardo's hand in greeting. Riccardo’s true identity is now revealed and he is acclaimed by the people.

Act 2

On the outskirts of the town, at the gallows-place. Midnight

Amelia, conquering her fears, has come here alone to pick the herb of which Ulrica told her (Aria: Ma dall'arido stelo divulsa / " If through thr arid stalks"). She is surprised by Riccardo, who has come to meet her. Now the two finally declare their love for each other.

Unexpectedly, Renato arrives, and Amelia covers her face with her veil before he can recognize her. Renato explains to Riccardo that the conspirators are pursuing him, and his life is in danger. Riccardo leaves, making Renato promise to escort the veiled woman safely back to town, not asking her identity. When the conspirators arrive, they confront Renato; in the struggle, Amelia’s veil drops. Renato assumes that Amelia and Riccardo have been involved in an adulterous love affair. He asks the two leaders of the conspiracy, Samuel and Tom, to meet him the next day.

Act 3

Scene 1: Renato’s house

Renato has resolved to kill Amelia for the dishonor she has brought on him. She protests her innocence and begs to see her son one last time. (Aria: Morrò, ma prima in grazia / "I shall die - but one last wish"). Renato relents, and declares that it is Riccardo, not Amelia, who deserves to die (Aria: Eri tu che macchiavi quell'anima / "It was you who stained this soul").

Samuel and Tom arrive, and Renato asks to join their plot, pledging the life of his son as proof of his sincerity. They agree to draw lots to decide who will kill Riccardo. Amelia is forced to draw the winning name – Renato.

Oscar, the page, arrives with invitations to the masked ball; Samuel, Tom and Renato agree that this is where the assassination will take place.

Scene 2: The ball

Riccardo, torn between love and duty, has resolved to renounce his love for Amelia and send her and Renato back to England (Aria: Ma se m'è forza perderti / "But if I am forced to lose you").

At the ball, Renato tries to learn from Oscar what costume Riccardo is wearing. Oscar at first refuses to tell (Aria: Saper vorreste / "You want to know How he is dressed"), but finally answers: a black cloak and a red ribbon. Riccardo manages to identify Amelia and tells her of the decision he has made. As they say goodbye, Renato stabs Riccardo. The wounded Riccardo discloses that though he loved Amelia, she never broke her marriage vows. He pardons all the conspirators, bidding farewell to his friends and his country as he dies.

Selected recordings

Year	Cast (Riccardo, Amelia, Renato, Oscar, Ulrica)	Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra	Label
1954	Jan Peerce Jan Peerce Jan Peerce was an American operatic tenor. He is the father of film director Larry Peerce.... , Herva Nelli Herva Nelli Herva Nelli was an Italy-born operatic soprano.... , Robert Merrill Robert Merrill Robert Merrill was an American operatic baritone. While there has been dispute regarding his birth year , the Social Security Death Index, his family, and his gravestone state that he was born in 1917.... Virginia Haskins	Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini Arturo Toscanini was an Italian people conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th Centuries, he was renowned for his brilliant intensity, his restless perfectionism, his phenomenal ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory.... , NBC Symphony Orchestra NBC Symphony Orchestra The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo Toscanini.... Robert Shaw Chorale Robert Shaw Chorale The Robert Shaw Chorale was a professional chorus founded in New York City in 1948 by Robert Shaw , a Californian who had been drafted out of college a decade earlier by Fred Waring to conduct his Glee Club in radio broadcasts....	Audio CD: RCA Victor
1956	Giuseppe di Stefano Giuseppe Di Stefano Giuseppe Di Stefano was an Italian operatic tenor whose career lasted from the late 1940s to the early 1970s. He was also known for his long association with the soprano Maria Callas, with whom he performed and recorded many times, and with whom he was romantically involved for a brief period.... , Maria Callas Maria Callas Maria Callas was an American-born Greeks soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the twentieth century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique with great dramatic gifts.... , Tito Gobbi Tito Gobbi Tito Gobbi was an Italian baritone.... Eugenia Ratti Eugenia Ratti Eugenia Ratti was an Italian soprano, particularly associated with the Italian repertory.She was born in Genoa, Italy, and studied with her mother, and later took private lessons with Tito Schipa, and made her stage debut at Sestri Levante in 1954.... , Fedora Barbieri Fedora Barbieri Fedora Barbieri was an Italian mezzo-soprano.She made her official debut in Florence in 1940, but retired in 1943 because of her marriage. She re-emerged in 1945....	Antonino Votto Antonino Votto Antonino Votto was an Italian operatic conductor. Votto developed an extensive discography with the La Scala in Milan during the 1950s, when EMI produced the bulk of its studio recordings featuring Maria Callas.... , Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala di Milano	Audio CD: EMI Classics
1961	Carlo Bergonzi, Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson Birgit Nilsson was a Sweden dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. Her voice was noted for its overwhelming force, bountiful reserves of power and the gleaming brilliance and clarity in the upper register.... , Cornell MacNeil Cornell MacNeil Cornell MacNeil is an American operatic baritone known for his voice and his phenomenal career with the Metropolitan Opera, which spanned 642 performances in twenty-six roles.... , Sylvia Stahlman Sylvia Stahlman Sylvia Stahlman was an American soprano, particularly associated with lighter coloratura roles.... , Giulietta Simionato Giulietta Simionato Giulietta Simionato is an Italy mezzo-soprano and one of the great singers of the post-war operatic stage. Her career spanned from the 1930s until her retirement in 1966....	Georg Solti Georg Solti Sir Georg Solti, Order of the British Empire was a Hungary-United Kingdom orchestral and operatic Conducting.... , Coro e Orchestra dell'Accademia di Santa Cecilia	Audio CD: Decca Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 in music by Edward Lewis . Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
1966	Carlo Bergonzi, Leontyne Price Leontyne Price Mary Violet Leontyne Price in Laurel, Mississippi in the United States is one of America's most beloved and widely recorded operatic sopranos.... , Robert Merrill Robert Merrill Robert Merrill was an American operatic baritone. While there has been dispute regarding his birth year , the Social Security Death Index, his family, and his gravestone state that he was born in 1917.... , Reri Grist Reri Grist Reri Grist is an United States coloratura soprano, one of the pioneer African-American singers to enjoy a major international career in opera.... , Shirley Verrett Shirley Verrett Shirley Verrett is an American operatic mezzo-soprano and soprano. Verrett enjoyed great fame from the late 1960s and was much admired for her radiant voice, beauty, and great versatility....	Erich Leinsdorf Erich Leinsdorf Erich Leinsdorf was an Austrian-born American conducting. He performed and recorded with leading orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, earning a reputation for exacting standards as well as an acerbic personality.... RCA Italiana Opera Chorus and Orchestra	Audio CD: RCA Victor
1975	Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo Jos? Pl?cido Domingo Embil Order of the British Empire , better known as Pl?cido Domingo, is a Spanish tenor, known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range.... , Katia Ricciarelli Katia Ricciarelli Katia Ricciarelli is an Italian soprano.... , Piero Cappuccilli Piero Cappuccilli Piero Cappuccilli was an Italian operatic baritone, particularly associated with Giuseppe Verdi roles, especiallyMacbeth and Simon Boccanegra, he was renowned for his extraordinary breath control and smooth legato.... , Reri Grist Reri Grist Reri Grist is an United States coloratura soprano, one of the pioneer African-American singers to enjoy a major international career in opera.... ??	Claudio Abbado Claudio Abbado Claudio Abbado, Italian orders of merit , is an Italy Conducting. He has held many of the most prestigious positions in the world of classical music, having served as music director of the La Scala opera house in Milan, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music di... , Royal Opera House Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in the London district of Covent Garden. The large building, often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", is the home of Royal Opera, London , Royal Ballet, London and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.... Orchestra and Chorus	DVD: Kultur Video
1979	José Carreras José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as Jos? Carreras, is a Spain Catalonia tenor. One of the most prominent opera singers of his generation, and particularly eminent in the operas of Verdi and Puccini, his career has encompassed over 60 roles on stage and in the recording studio.... , Montserrat Caballé Montserrat Caballé Montserrat Caball? is a Spain Catalan people operaticsoprano. One of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century,she possesses a voice of remarkable beauty and of great range... , Ingvar Wixell Ingvar Wixell Ingvar Wixell is a Sweden baritone opera singer.Wixell made his debut 1955 as Papageno in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute. He worked at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm 1955–1967.... , Sona Ghazarian Sona Ghazarian Sona Ghazarian is an Armenian people- Austria operatic soprano. A Kammers?nger of the Republic of Austria, she has sung over 70 roles in the major opera houses of both Europe and the United States.... , Patricia Payne	Sir Colin Davis, Royal Opera House Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in the London district of Covent Garden. The large building, often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", is the home of Royal Opera, London , Royal Ballet, London and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.... Orchestra and Chorus	Audio CD: Philips Philips Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , usually known as Philips, is a Netherlands electronics company. It is one of the largest electronics companies in the world, founded and headquartered in the Netherlands.... Cat: 426 560-2
1980	Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo Jos? Pl?cido Domingo Embil Order of the British Empire , better known as Pl?cido Domingo, is a Spanish tenor, known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range.... , Katia Ricciarelli Katia Ricciarelli Katia Ricciarelli is an Italian soprano.... , Renato Bruson Renato Bruson Renato Bruson is an Italian operatic baritone. Bruson is widely considered one of the most important Baritone#Verdi_baritone of the late 20th and early 21st century.... , Elena Obraztsova Elena Obraztsova Elena Vasiliyevna Obraztsova is a Russian mezzo-soprano. In June 2007 Obraztsova was appointed as the artistic director for opera at Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg.... ??	Claudio Abbado Claudio Abbado Claudio Abbado, Italian orders of merit , is an Italy Conducting. He has held many of the most prestigious positions in the world of classical music, having served as music director of the La Scala opera house in Milan, principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, music di... , Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus	Audio CD: Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon is a Germany classical record label, now part of the Universal Music Group. The company has long been known for its high standards of high fidelity.... Cat: 453 148-2
1990	Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo Jos? Pl?cido Domingo Embil Order of the British Empire , better known as Pl?cido Domingo, is a Spanish tenor, known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range.... , Josephine Barstow Josephine Barstow Dame Josephine Barstow Order of the British Empire is an English soprano.... , Leo Nucci Leo Nucci Leo Nucci is an Italian operatic baritone, one of the leading baritones of the 1980s and 1990s, particularly admired in Giuseppe Verdi roles.... , Sumi Jo ??	Georg Solti Georg Solti Sir Georg Solti, Order of the British Empire was a Hungary-United Kingdom orchestral and operatic Conducting.... , Vienna State Opera Vienna State Opera The Vienna State Opera is an opera house - and opera company - with a history dating back to the mid 19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria.... , Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra The Vienna Philharmonic is an orchestra in Austria, regularly considered one of the finest in the world .Its home base is the Musikverein, Vienna....	DVD: TDK Video TDK , formerly , is a Japan company that manufactures electronic materials, electronic components, and recording and Data storage device, and markets them globally.... Cat: 8 24121 00109 4

Note: "Cat:" is short for catalogue number by the label company

Un ballo in maschera

Genesis of the opera: censorship and contention

Performance history

Roles

Synopsis

Act 1

Act 2

Act 3

Selected recordings

External links