2025 OPERA SEASON
A MASQUERADE BALL
Giuseppe Verdi
April 13 to 19
MUNICIPAL NOUVEAU
(Constitution Square, 4)
On January 14, 1858, Felice Orsini attends to the life of Napoleon III. This is not the time to stage a regicide: the Neapolitan censorship makes this clear to Verdi, who had his eyes (and pen, with librettist Antonio Somma) on the death of Gustavus III of Sweden during a masked ball. The project moves on to Rome (where it will debut in 1859), not without compromise: everything moves overseas and the king becomes count, governor of Boston. The drama of the man who has to reconcile his public image and the intimate ordeal of reciprocated but impossible love for his best friend’s wife, her torment between guilt and the furious grief of the doubly betrayed spouse, remain intact. The new setting, on the other hand, is not an afterthought, but creates an ideal context for an opera in which Verdi mixes brilliant lightnesses of French taste, the mysterious shadows of the soothsayer Ulrica or palace conspiracies, the nobility of intentions, and the fire of passions.
Melodrama in three acts
Libretto by Antonio Somma, from Gustave III, ou Le Bal masque by Eugène Scribe
On January 14, 1858, Felice Orsini attends to the life of Napoleon III. This is not the time to stage a regicide: the Neapolitan censorship makes this clear to Verdi, who had his eyes (and pen, with librettist Antonio Somma) on the death of Gustavus III of Sweden during a masked ball. The project moves on to Rome (where it will debut in 1859), not without compromise: everything moves overseas and the king becomes count, governor of Boston. The drama of the man who has to reconcile his public image and the intimate ordeal of reciprocated but impossible love for his best friend’s wife, her torment between guilt and the furious grief of the doubly betrayed spouse, remain intact. The new setting, on the other hand, is not an afterthought, but creates an ideal context for an opera in which Verdi mixes brilliant lightnesses of French taste, the mysterious shadows of the soothsayer Ulrica or palace conspiracies, the nobility of intentions, and the fire of passions.
Director
Directing
DIRECTOR
Riccardo Frizza
DIRECTOR
Daniele Menghini
New Production of Teatro Comunale di Bologna with Teatro Regio di Parma and Fondazione Rete Lirica delle Marche
Orchestra, Chorus and Technicians of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna
CHORUS MASTER
Gea Garatti Ansini
in collaboration for stage actions with the Theater School of Bologna Alessandra Galante Garrone
Main Characters and Performers
RICCARDO
APR 13 | 16 | 19
RICCARDO
15 | 17 APR
RENATO
RENATO
AMELIA
APR 13 | 16 | 19
AMELIA
15 | 17 APR
ULRICA
APR 13 | 16 | 19
ULRICA
15 | 17 APR
SILVANO
OSCAR
APR 13 | 16 | 19
OSCAR
15 | 17 APR
ROICCARDO
Fabio Sartori 13 | 16 | 19 APR
Matteo Lippi15| 17 APR
RENATO
Amartuvshin Enkhbat
Sebastian Catana
AMELIA
Anastasia Bartoli 13 | 16 | 19 APR
Marta Torbidoni 15 | 17 APR
ULRICA
Silvia Beltrami 13 | 16 | 19 APR
Chiara Mogini 15 | 17 APR
SILVANO
Andrea Borghini
OSCAR
Silvia Spessot 13 | 16 | 19 APR
Claudia Ceraulo 15 | 17 APR
SCENE
Federica Parolini
COSTUMES
Silvia Aymonino
LUCI
Alessandro Verazzi
SCENE
Davide Signorini
COSTUMES
Nika Campisi
LUCI
Gianni Bertoli
Author
(1813-1901) one of Italy’s greatest opera composers. He wrote such masterpieces as “Rigoletto,” “Il trovatore,” “La traviata,” “Aida,” “Otello,” and “Falstaff.” His operas, characterized by intense emotions, powerful melodies and deep dramatic themes, revolutionized musical theater. Verdi influenced 19th-century Italian culture, becoming a symbol of the Risorgimento and leaving a musical legacy that profoundly marked world opera.
April 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19
MUNICIPAL NOUVEAU
(Constitution Square, 4)
Presenting Partner
Nothing found.
This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)