It was to take over two years between the time of the commission from Naples and planned for a production there and its premiere performance at the Teatro Apollo in Rome on 17 February 1859. In order to become the Un ballo in maschera which we know today, Verdi's opera (and his libretto) was forced to undergo a significant series of transformations and title changes. Based on the Scribe libretto and begun as Gustavo III set in Sweden, it became Una vendetta in dominò set in Germany, and finally Un ballo, set not in Sweden but in Boston, Massachusetts during the colonial era. These changes were caused by a combination of censorship regulations in both Naples and Rome, as well as by the political situation in France in January 1858. It became one of the most frustrating experiences of Verdi's career.
Original Name | Un ballo in maschera |
Librettist | Antonio Somma (Based on Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's 1833 Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué) |
Date of composition | 1859 |
Premiered | 1859, February 17th (Teatro Apollo) in Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy |
First published | 1859 |
Type | Opera |
Spoken language | Italian |
Instruments |
Orchestra
Chorus/Choir Voice (Tenor) - A judge Voice (Tenor) - Gustavo, King of Sweden Voice (Soprano) - Amelia, wife of Anckarström, in love with Gustavo Voice (Baritone) - Count Anckarström, husband of Amelia and Gustavo's secretary, best friend and confidant Voice (Soprano) - Coloratura ; Oscar, Gustavo's page Voice (Contralto) - Madame Arvidson, a fortune-teller Voice (Bass) - Cristiano Voice (Tenor) - Amelia's servant Voice (Bass) - Count Ribbing Voice (Bass) - Count Horn |
Autotranslations beta |
Giuseppe Verdi: A Masked Ball "Melodramma lirico in tre atti" Giuseppe Verdi: A Masked Ball "Melodramma lirico in tre atti" Giuseppe Verdi: A Masked Ball "Melodramma lirico in tre atti" |