Overview
Synopsis
Un Ballo in Maschera follows the story of the assassination of King Gustavo III of Sweden. Gustavo is in love with Amelia, the wife of Anckarström, the king’s secretary and most loyal friend. The lovers meet in secret, even though they know that their love should not continue. Unbeknownst to the king, Count Horn and Count Ribbing are leading a conspiracy against the king to have him murdered. After a trip to see the fortune teller, Ulrica, who tells the king that he will be killed by the hand of a friend, and states that it will be Anckarström. Ignoring this vision, Gustavo continues with his plans for a masked ball, trusting in the loyalty of his friend. However, when Anckarström discovers the affair, he vows to murder the king himself. Just as Gustavo has decided to leave his love for Amelia behind, he is murdered at the ball by Anckarström.
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Context
Antonio Somma based the libretto for Un Ballo in Maschera off of a five act libretto previously writing by Eugène Scribe for Daniel Auber’s 1833 opera Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué. Due to censorship regulations in Naples and Rome, where the opera was performed early on in its life, concerning the political situations in France, especially since the story revolves around the assassination of the king of Sweden. The libretto, therefore, went through a number of changes in setting, and
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Act I
In the palace in Stockholm, Sweden, a group of court members are waiting for King Gustavo III to enter. Count Horn and Count Ribbing are the leaders of a group that are conspiring against the king, hoping for his downfall, and the uprising of a new King. As the King enters, he notices the name Ameila on the guest list for a masked ball, the wife of his secretary and best friend, Count Anckarström. King Gustavo is secretly in love with Amelia. After the rest of the members of court
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
Prelude
Act I
- Coro: Posa in pace, a’bei sogni ristora (Chorus)
- Scena e sortita di Gustavo: La revedrà nell’estasi (Gustavo)
- Scene e Cantabile di Renato: Alla cita che t’arride (Renato)
- Scena e Ballata di Oscar: Volta la terrea fronte alle stelle (Oscar)
- Seguito e stretta dell’Introduzione: Ogni cura si doni al diletto (Chorus)
- Invocazione: Re dell’abisso, affrettati (Ulrica)
- Scena: È lui, È lu! (Ulrica)
- Scena: Su, fatemi largo
- Scena e Terzetto: Della città all’occaso (Amelia, Ulrica, Gustavo)
- Scena e Canzone: Di’tu se fedele il flutto m’aspetta (Gustavo)
- Scena e Quintetto: È scherzo od è follia (Amelia, Ulrica, Gustavo, Count Ribbing, Count Horn)
- Scena ed Inno-Finale I: O figlio d’Inghilterra
Act II
- Preludio, Scena ed Aria: Ma doll’arido stelo disulsa (Amelia)
- Duetto: Teco io sto. Gran Dio! (Amelia, Gustavo)
- Scena e Terzetto: Tu qui? Per salvarti da lor (Amelia, Gustavo, Renato)
- Scena e Coro nel Finale II: Avventiamoci su lui (Chorus)
Act III
- Scena ed Aria: Morrò, ma prima in grazia (Amelia)
- Scena ed Aria: Eri tu che macchiavi quell’anima (Renato)
- Congiura- Terzetto-Quartetto: Dunque l’onta di tutti sol una (Amelia, Renato, Count Ribbings, Count Horn)
- Scena e Quintetto: Di che fulgor, che musiche (Amelia, Oscar, Renato, Count Ribbings, Count Horn)
- Scena e Finale III: Romanza: Ma se m’è forza perderti (Gustavo)
- Scena e Duettino: T’amo, si t’amo, e in lagrime: (Amelia, Gustavo)
- Coro nel Finale III: Ah morte, infania (Chorus)
- Scene Finale: Ella è pura, in braccio a morte (Amelia, Oscar, Gustavo, Renato, Count Ribbings, Count Horn)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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