UN BALLO IN MASCHERA
Giuseppe VerdiOpera in three acts
Libretto by Antonio Somma based on Eugène Scribe’s libretto
for the opera Gustave III by Daniel-François Auber
Programme (Mobile version)
Programme (Book version)
Somewhere between Sweden and Boston
This opera tells the love story
that ended the life of Gustavo III of Sweden at the hands of one of
his best friends. The libretto, inspired by the work by Eugène
Scribe Gustave III, ou le bal masqué, written in 1833, was
used by Giuseppe Verdi to compose an opera of stylistic maturity in
1859 that reflects on morality in conflict with love passion; about
despair delivered to superstition; about loyalty that transcends
injustice and crime. As so often happened, the censors were not
happy with the leading role of Swedish royalty, so the historical
opera based on a real story was transferred to a Boston of invented
characters who, nevertheless, retain in their features the
universal essence that Verdi was so interested in.