Libretto by Antonio Somma, based loosely on the play Gustave III, ou Le bal masque by Eugène Scribe World premiere: 17 February 1859, Teatro Apollo (Rome) Premiere at the Estonian National Opera: February 13, 2009
Music Director and Conductor: Arvo Volmer Conductors: Eri Klas, Jüri Alperten, Mihhail Gerts Stage Director: Arne Mikk Set Designer: Ralf Forsström (Finland) Lighting Designer: Neeme Jõe
Sung in Italian with subtitles in Estonian and English Approx. running time 2 h 50 min, one intermission
The opera with the libretto by Antonio Somma is about passion, love, political intrigues, people stuck in the labyrinth of life and everything that an opera is usually about. The music by Verdi conveys it in such an authentic, human and timeless way that it makes it hard to believe that 150 years have passed since the world premiere of the opera. The complicated person of Gustavus III of Sweden (1796-1792) and his assassination at a masked ball on March 16, 1792, has provided material for various interpretations and heated disputes. In the 19th century Italy, characterised by the spirit of reunification, the cultural life was shaped by censors who came up with topical political pretexts for banning the opera. Nevertheless, it is love and deep feelings, superior to politics, that make the opera by Verdi memorable.
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