Opera North

Un ballo in maschera also reunites director Tim Albery with the designer Hannah Clark, following their extremely well-received production of The Coronation of Poppea for Opera North in 2014. Verdi’s passionate, elegant, and dramatically intense opera, inspired by the real-life assassination of Sweden’s King Gustav in 1792, hinges on the story of a leader threatened by conspirators, who is also in love with the wife of one of his closest friends.

A powerful international cast includes Mexican tenor Rafael Rojas as Gustavo, following his most recent appearances in the title role of Andrea Chénier (2015) and upcoming performances as Calaf in Turandot (April- May 2016). Young New Zealand-born baritone Phillip Rhodes plays Anckarstroem.

Hungarian soprano Adrienn Miksch, makes her UK and Opera North debut as Amelia, and Irish mezzo Patricia Bardon sings the fortune-teller Madame Arvindson, returning following appearances as the Principessa in Suor Angelica (2016). Armenian soprano Tereza Gevorgyan is Oscar, following Opera North’s support through her studies at the National Opera Studio in 2014-15 and her company debut as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi in 2015.

Richard Farnes returns for the first time following the conclusion of his tenure at Opera North with acclaimed performances of Wagner’s Ring in 2016. His current schedule for 2016/2017 includes Il trovatore at Covent Garden, and La traviata at Glyndebourne.