Venue: Opera House
Dates: May 24-28, 2017
Duration: Approximate 165 mins (Intermission Included)
About
The Un Ballo in Maschera is adapted based on the story of assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden in the 18th century. Through fictional odd story, the opera reveals Amelia's ambivalence when pursuing extramarital romantic love and safeguarding her husband's dignity, and rolls out the real high life of Italy in the 18th century. Un Ballo in Maschera, La forza del destino and Don Carlo are crowned as the three major masterpieces created by Verdi in his mid-life. Un Ballo in Maschera can be described as one of Verdi's most talented works in terms of music, which not only consists of many classical arias, but also achieves the culmination of the Romantic opera from the perspective of art. This work truly achieves grand and magnificent realm in view of drama contents and musical charm.
Synopsis
Ricardo is preparing for a dancing party. He invites his good friend Renato's wife Amelia because he loves her. His servant Oscar warns Ricardo that someone will plot to murder him. But Ricardo doesn't mind and he even laughs at the prophecy of witch Ulrika.
At first, Ulrika secretly meets Amelia in her hut. Amelia needs a secret recipe to be able to forget Ricardo. Then, Ulrika tells Ricardo (who is disguised to request for fortune-telling) that he would die at the hands of a friend.Amelia comes alone to the guillotine to search for forgetting grass at midnight and Ricardo follows her. Both express their love each other. At this point, Renato rushes to notify Ricardo to beware of the assassin. Renato also promises to lead masked Amelia to a safe place. However, the assassin forces Amelia to reveal her identity. Ashamed and angry Renato makes decision to jointly revenge with the assassin. In the Governor's dancing party, Renato assassinates Ricardo, but Ricardo feel remorseful for a long time, and gets ready to help Renato and Amelia jointly return to the United Kingdom. But the big mistake is still made. Before death, Renato proves that Amelia is innocent and forgives all people concerned.
