Un ballo in maschera places forbidden love and betrayal at the heart of a ruthless political conspiracy, leading to its inevitable tragic end: murder at a magnificent masked ball. Amid masks and gossip, private passion and public power intertwine in a world where mortal danger may lurk behind every elegant gesture.
Production of Fondazione Teatro dell’Opera di Roma
4.1.2027 – The Gala performance is in honor of Lizika, Ami & Teddy Sagy
Scene I – The governor’s mansion
Riccardo, the Governor of Boston, receives people in his office, including Tom and Samuel, who conpires against him. Oscar, his page, brings him the list of guests invited to a masked ball. Riccardo is overjoyed to see included the name of Amelia, the wife of his secretary Renato, with whom, despite his conscience, he is in love. The faithful Renato tells him of a plot against his life but Riccardo brushes the warning aside. A judge arrives with papers to sign, banishing a fortune teller named Ulrica for her evil influence. Oscar intercedes for her. Riccardo, for a lark, suggests that they all go in disguise to see the fortune teller and test her powers. The conspirators fall in with the scheme, seeing in it an opportunity to carry out their plot against Riccardo.
Scene II – Ulrica’s place
Silvano, a sailor, asks the fortune teller if he will be appreciated for his many years in the governor’s service. Ulrica promises him a promotion and wealth. Riccardo, who is secretly watching, quickly slips a promotion letter and a wallet full of coins into Silvano’s coat. Everyone rejoices when the fortune teller’s prophecy comes true, but Ulrica is furious, as she feels that an outsider has interfered with her work.
Without Riccardo’s knowledge, Amelia also comes to consult the fortune teller. Concealed, he hears Amelia ask for a magic potion, which will uproot the love from her heart. Ulrica tells her of such an herb which can only be gathered at midnight in the place where the gallows stand. When Amelia leaves, Riccardo asks to have his fortune told. Ulrica tells him he will die by the hand of the friend who will next shake his hand. Hearing this prophecy, everyone trembles with terror and no one is willing to shake the governor’s outstretched hand except Renato, who has just arrived and has not heard Ulrica’s words. Despite the fortune teller’s warnings not to underestimate the prophecies, everyone bursts into laughter, except for the desperate conspirators, since Renato is the governor’s good friend.
Midnight, a deserted field, beside the gallows
Amelia, veiled, comes to pluck the special herb, when Riccardo arrives. They proclaim their love to each other but Amelia begs Riccardo to leave her. At that point Renato comes into view. Amelia, seeing her husband, lowers her veil in fright. Renato has come to warn his master that conspirators are on their way to assasinate him. Riccardo consents to escape through a side path but asks Renato to promise that he will escort the veiled Lady back to the city without attempting to find out who she is. As they leave, Renato and Amelia fall into the hands of the conspirators who, enraged at the loss of the governor, insist at least on knowing who his sweetheart is. They try to pull off Amelia’s veil. Renato draws his gun.
To prevent bloodshed, Amelia also reveals her identity, and Renato is shocked to see his wife. The conspirators smirk as Renato decides to join the conspiracy against the governor who betrayed him and invites Tom and Samuel to his home.
Scene I – Renato’s house
Renato decides to kill Amelia after she failed to convince him that she did not betray him. Amelia begs to be allowed to embrace their son one last time before she dies. When she goes out Renato gazes at the portrait of Riccardo and realizes that the only way to restore his honor is to murder the Governor and so he joins Samuel and Tom in their plot. They decide to hold a lottery to determine who will kill the governor. Renato demands that Amelia will draw the name, and she does as she’s told: the intended killer is Renato. Oscar brings the invitation to the masquerade ball and Renato plans to turn the ball into Ricardo’s dance of death.
Scene II – A ballroom in Riccardo’s mansion
Riccardo is overcome with grief. He does love his best friend’s wife, but he also knows that he must protect her marriage and must not violate her honor. Therefore, he decides to promote Renato and appoint him to an important position in England, where he will go with Amelia. He knows that at the ball he will see Amelia for the last time. Oscar brings the governor a letter from an anonymous lady warning him that an attempt will be made on his life at the ball. The ball is at its peak when the conspirators arrive and Renato manages to convince Oscar to point at the disguised governor. Amelia begs Ricardo to leave before they kill him, but to no avail. He is unable to leave her. As they embrace for the last time, Renato kills the governor. The dying Riccardo shows Renato the order detailing his new position in England and swears to Renato that Amelia did not violate his honor. He forgives his murderer.
Want to know more about the opera you’re going to see? Want to discover the secrets behind the scenes? Want to meet the artists after the performance? The Israeli Opera allows you to enhance your operatic experience with a variety of events before and after the performance.
An hour before each opera performance begins, a 30-minute introductory lecture is held in the auditorium. The lecture, given by representatives of the opera team, sometimes focuses on the opera and its historical background, sometimes on the musical aspects of the work, sometimes on the production itself, and allows viewers to receive additional information in preparation for watching the opera a short time before the performance begins.
The lecture begins one hour before the start of each opera performance.
Lecture length: 30 minutes.
Admission is free for opera ticket holders that day.
A pre-show lecture will be held about an hour before each show begins.
The performance is over. It’s already late. And yet the experience was exciting, challenging, moving. It’s time to meet some of the participants in an informal gathering. Come listen and share. Come ask questions. Come get to know the soloists up close. An extraordinary opportunity to get closer to the artists who just thrilled you on stage.
An Opera Talkback takes place at the end of the performance on the second level of the Opera House’s foyer.
Talkback duration: about half an hour.
The talkbacks take place several times during each production. Admission is free.
The talkbacks will take place immediately after the show on the following dates:
A unique experience: Being part of the preparations for curtain rise.
You know how there are moments that are just the right time? The hour and a half before the curtain rises is exactly that moment – when the house awakens to life, when the artists prepare, and when the stage transforms from an empty space into a world of magic.
Our special tour invites you to be part of this magical moment. You’ll see the house at its most vibrant – when the technicians do their final checks, when the lighting prepares to tell the story, when the production truly comes to life. This isn’t just a visit – it’s a glimpse into the living process of creating opera.
You’ll discover the hidden spaces of the house, meet the people behind the magic, and understand how every small detail becomes part of the grand creation. At the end of the tour, you’ll enter the auditorium already knowing the story of the place and ready to experience the performance in a completely new way.
A unique experience: Being part of the preparations for curtain rise.
Tour duration: 45 minutes of pure magic.
Timing: An hour and a quarter before the performance begins.
Advance ticket purchase required, limited tickets available at this Link
Seeing how magic is born is almost as beautiful as the magic itself
January 2027
