A thriller of passion amidst masks

A conspiracy threatens the life of the unconcerned governor Ricardo; he might be assassinated in the confusion of a masked ball. With this plot, which seems like the beginning of an Agatha Christie novel, Giuseppe Verdi wrote a tense political and passionate love drama based on the real assassination of King Gustavo III of Sweden during a court ball in 1792.

Sentimental commotion, black witchcraft prophesies or the ideals of freedom during the time when Italy was still under Austrian Empire domination come together in an opera of duos proclaiming love, danger, superstition and misfortune.

Following Rigoletto or La traviata, Un ballo in maschera is an opera of choruses that combines lyricism and brilliancy and it immediately met with audience applause.

Francesco Ivan Ciampa leads the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra (ROSS) and the opera chorus of the Seville Association of Friends of the Maestranza Theatre (Opera Coro de la A.A. del Teatro de la Maestranza). The acclaimed Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas, along with Lianna Haroutounian and Gabriele Viviani, head the first class cast for a grand Verdi opera.

Antonio Somma's libretto. Premiere: Teatro Apollo de Roma, 17th February, 1859.