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Un ballo in maschera facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts


Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) is an Italian opera in three acts. The music was written by Giuseppe Verdi. The libretto was written by Antonio Somma. It is based on Eugène Scribe's Gustave III ou Le Bal Masqué.

The opera was first performed at the Teatro Appollo in Rome, on February 17, 1859. One of Verdi's richest middle-period works, it relates the events surrounding the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden, but because of censorship, the story was transposed to 17th century Boston, with Gustav becoming an English governor, Richard of Warwick. Nowadays, most productions present the opera in its original Swedish setting.

Principal characters

  • Gustavo/Riccardo, King of Sweden in love with Amelia- tenor
  • Amelia, a courtier - soprano
  • Renato, a courtier and Amelia's husband - baritone
  • Ulrica, a fortune teller - mezzo-soprano
  • Oscar, a page - soprano
  • Samuel, conspirator - bass
  • Tom, conspirator - bass
  • Silvano, conspirator - baritone
  • The Complete Dictionary of Opera & Operetta, James Anderson, Wings Books, 1993.

Images for kids

  • Verdi and Naples censor-caricature by Delfico

    Verdi and the Naples censor when preparing "Ballo", 1857–58, caricature by Delfico

  • Verdi in 1859

    Verdi in 1859

  • Gaetano Fraschini

    Tenor Gaetano Fraschini, the first Riccardo

  • Antonio Somma-librettist

    Antonio Somma, the librettist of the opera

  • Leone Giraldoni ca 1865

    Baritone Leone Giraldoni, the first Renato (c. 1865)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Un baile de máscaras para niños

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