A Masked Ball
Composer
Librettist
Based On
a libretto by Eugene Scribe for Daniel Auber's opera Gustave III, ou Le Bal masque
Company
San Francisco Opera Association
Location
San Francisco, CA
Venue
War Memorial Opera House
Season
1937
Language
Italian
Creative/Crew
Conductor
Stage Director(s)
Chorus Master
Choreography by
Cast
Riccardo, Count of Warwick, and Governor of Boston
Renato, his secretary and friend
Amelia, Renato's wife
Ulrica, a negress fortune-teller
Oscar, a page
Samuel, enemy of the Count
Tom, an enemy of the Count
Judge
Silvano
Show Dates
Time and Place
End of the 17th century; Colonial Boston
Scenes
Act I, Scene 1 -- A Hall in the Governor's Mansion
Scene 2 -- The Hut of Ulrica
Act II -- A Lonely Field near Boston
Act III, Scene 1 -- A room in Renato's Dwelling
Scene 2 -- The Governor's Private Office
Scene 3 -- Terrace of the Governor's Mansion
Media
Notes
Program note:
"Un Ballo in Maschera" was written shortly after the attempt on the life of Napoleon III. First called "Gustavo III," after an assassinated Swedish monarch, it carried in its plot a similar murder and its intended presentation in Naples was prohibited. Later it was given in Rome but, in order to meet police requirements, with locale changed to Colonial America and Gustavo III to Richard "Count" of Warwick and "Governor" of Boston.