The Teatro Comunale di Ferrara will select voices for its upcoming production of “Un Ballo in Maschera” by Giuseppe Verdi through the free training course “Cantante 5.0.” The opera is scheduled for the 2027-28 season and will be co-produced with the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and the Teatro Galli di Rimini. Selections for the course will take place in Ferrara {…}
(Photo By Faymous Studios) Vashon Opera will open its 17th season with Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera” in a concert performance starring international soprano Angela Meade as Amelia and tenor John Matthew Myers as Riccardo. The opera will also feature baritone Andrew Krikawa as Renato, contralto Rachelle Moss as Ulrica and soprano Allison Pohl as Oscar. Charles Robert Stephens will {…}
(Photo: Craig Fuller) “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t,” proclaimed Mark Twain. Who knows what he would have made of Verdi’s “Un ballo in Maschera,” currently being performed in London’s Holland Park Opera, where the hugely implausible plot is based on the real-life assassination of King Gustav III {…}
The Staatsoper unter den Linden has announced that Ludovic Tézier has withdrawn from Verdi’s “Un ballo in Maschera.” As a result, Amartuvshin Enkhbat will take over for Tézier for the March 29, April 1 and 4 performances in a new production by Rafael R. Villalobos. Enkhbat has performed the role at the San Francisco Opera and Teatro Regio di Parma. The {…}
The Teatro alla Scala has confirmed that the 2026-27 season will open with Verdi’s “Otello.” The production will be directed by Damiano Michieletto and will be conducted by Music Director Myung-Whun Chung. The opera will open on Dec. 7, 2026. The company also confirmed that the 2027-28 season will open with Verdi “Un ballo in maschera” under the direction of Chung. The {…}
The etymology of the Italian word “maschera” (and its English equivalent “mask”) is rather obscure. It’s derived from the Arabic word “maskara,” meaning buffoonery and/or harsh derision. Indeed, a closer look at “Un ballo in maschera” reveals a higher degree of caustic bite far beyond the final act’s famous masked ball. Amelia seeks help from the soothsayer Ulrica to rid {…}
(Credit: Benjamin Girette/OnP) The Opéra National de Paris is set to present “Un Ballo in Maschera” in cinemas on Feb. 8, 2026. The opera, which will be presented in a production by Gilbert Deflo, will star Anna Netrebko (Amelia), Matthew Polenzani (Riccardo), Ludovic Tézier (Renato), Sara Blanch (Oscar), and Elizabeth DeShong (Ulrica). Speranza Scapucci conducts. The opera will be shown {…}
Opéra National de Paris has announced cast change for its production of “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The company said that Igor Golovatenko has withdrawn from the production and will be replaced by Étienne Dupuis on Jan. 27, 30 and February 2, 2026. Dupuis made his Paris debut in 2009 and has since performed in productions of “Pelléas et Mélisande,” “Don {…}
(Photo Credit: © Herwig Prammer) The Edinburgh International Festival has previewed its 2026 slate. Among the major headlines of the four shows previewed is the Zürich Opera House’s production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” Led by Gianandrea Noseda and directed by Adele Thomas, Verdi’s famed opera will feature two casts. Stephen Costello and Elena Stikhina will play the ill-fated {…}
(Credit: Luciano Romano) On Oct. 4, the Teatro San Carlo brought a new production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The evening was much anticipated as it featured the role debut of Anna Netrebko as Amelia, and reunited the famed soprano with baritone Ludovic Tézier, following an exceptional “La Gioconda” last year. While the two superstars lived up to their {…}
The Bayerische Staatsoper has announced a cast change for its production of “Un Ballo in Maschera.” The company said that Giorgio Berrugi will sing the role of Riccardo replacing an ill Charles Castronovo. For his part, Castronovo said, “Hi everyone, well I’m really sorry to say that I will not be able to sing the first performance of ‘un ballo {…}
