Opera North

At the heart of Un ballo in maschera is a tragic love triangle and ultimately, a lethal vendetta.

This intense opera is inspired by the real-life assassination of King Gustavus of Sweden in 1792. Gustavus secretly loves Amelia, the wife of his most loyal ally, Anckarstroem. When Anckarstroem discovers the affair, he joins a plot against Gustavus which culminates in a murderous masked ball.

Dramatic arias jostle with tense ensembles and rousing choruses, and at the heart of the piece is one of Verdi's most impassioned love duets. An all-star team brings this masterpiece to Opera North for the first time: former Music Director Richard Farnes returns to conduct this new production by Tim Albery, and Rafael Rojas, who appeared in the acclaimed Opera North productions of Andréa Chenier and Turandot, takes the lead role.

Supported by a generous gift from the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation.