Giuseppe Verdi
The assassination of King Gustav III became an opera in the early 19th century. In 1857, using this first opera as a basis, a libretto by Antonio Somma for an opera called Gustavo III set to music by Guiseppe Verdi was presented to censors in Italy.
Objections to presenting a king's assassination on stage were raised. Many changes were made, including what became the final one, where the setting was changed to Boston in colonial times. This was approved and the name of the opera was also changed to Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball).
In recent years, some opera houses have presented A Masked Ball as it really happened with the assassination of Gustav III.
And A Masked Ball has returned to the scene of the crime, the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Albeit not King Gustav's opera house, but a new one built in the 1890s and inaugurated by King Oscar II on September 19, 1898.
How I would have loved to see this opera there. Sitting up high, third balcony I believe it was, where I as a teenager often listened in awe to the great Swedish singers of the time. I particularly loved Verdi's operas. Rigoletto was my favorite.
In recent years, some opera houses have presented A Masked Ball as it really happened with the assassination of Gustav III.
The Stockholm Opera
How I would have loved to see this opera there. Sitting up high, third balcony I believe it was, where I as a teenager often listened in awe to the great Swedish singers of the time. I particularly loved Verdi's operas. Rigoletto was my favorite.
A final note of interest: On January 7, 1955, Marian Anderson sang the role of Ulrica in A Masked Ball and thus became the first African American artist to perform with the company at the Metropolitan Opera, in New York City.
