The composition of Un ballo in maschera caused Verdi many problems. What began as an opera called Gustavo III was subject to censorship by the Neapolitan and Roman authorities, so it's libretto, location and title all changed. The subject, however, is still the murder of Riccardo (Gustavo) at the masked ball, couched in a musical language in which the seriousness of Italian opera is infused with French vivacity. The opera's structure is carefully symmetrical in the great terzets, and the themes of duty, pleasure, drama and humor are rendered with masterful clarity.
1 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Preludio
2 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Posa in Pace
3 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: S'avanza Il Re!
4 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: La Rivedrà Ma Splendida
5 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Libero È Il Varco a Voi
6 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Alla Vita Che T'arride
7 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Il Primo Giudice / Pallida Pallida
8 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Signori, Oggi D'ulrica Alla Magion V'invito
9 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Ogni Cura Si Doni Al Diletto
10 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Re Dell'abisso Affrettati
11 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Su, Fatemi Largo
12 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Che V'agita Cosi? / Della Città All'occaso
13 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Di' Tu Se Fedele
14 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Chi Voi Siate, L'audace Parola
15 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: È Scherzo Od È Follia
16 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act One: Finisci Il Vaticinio
- Disc 2 -
1 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Two: Ecco L'orrido Campo
2 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Two: Teco Io Sto / Non Sai Tu Che Se L'anima Mia
3 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Two: Ahimé, S'appressa Alcun!
4 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Two: Seguitemi!
5 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Two: Che! Amelia! / Ve', Se Di Notte
- Disc 3 -
1 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: A Tal Colpa È Nulla Il Pianto
2 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Morrò, Ma Prima in Grazia
3 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Alzati. E Sei Tu Che Macchiavi Quell'anima
4 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Siam Soli. Udite
5 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Tutti Stretti Alla Fede D'un Patto
6 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Il Conte!
7 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Forse la Soglia Attinse
8 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Altro De' Nostri È Questo
9 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Ah, Perché Qui! Fuggite
10 Gustavo III (Un Ballo in Maschera)-Act Three: Ella È Pura, in Braccio a Morte
The composition of Un ballo in maschera caused Verdi many problems. What began as an opera called Gustavo III was subject to censorship by the Neapolitan and Roman authorities, so it's libretto, location and title all changed. The subject, however, is still the murder of Riccardo (Gustavo) at the masked ball, couched in a musical language in which the seriousness of Italian opera is infused with French vivacity. The opera's structure is carefully symmetrical in the great terzets, and the themes of duty, pleasure, drama and humor are rendered with masterful clarity.
