After a hefty Christmas break and three weeks in bed with the flu, Opera Miscellany returns with an opera that is very close to my heart.  Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera (Ballo).  Why the personal connection?  Well, I sang the role of Amelia in one of the opera’s odder reincarnations – a soap opera romp, set in IKEA, with such timeless lines as “a spot of dogging to keep things fresh.”

So what’s the real thing about then?

Well, Riccardo is governor of Boston (King of Sweden), but only by the skin of his teeth, there is a rather large contingent of plotters (headed up by a chap called Tom and a rogue called Samuel) set on killing him. Renato is the governor’s (king’s) best friend and is married to the lovely Amelia. The governor (king) also has a faithful page – Oscar – who is, rather confusingly, played by a light soprano.  Oh, and there’s a witch in the mix too – Ulrica.

Act One sees Riccardo celebrating the upcoming ball.  As he peruses the list of invitees he gets all moon-pie-eyed upon spotting the name of Renato’s wife.

Riccardo is not the ideal friend it turns out, and has been coveting Amelia for a while. Renato turns up and tries to warn Riccardo that there is a plot to kill him, but Riccardo is having none of it.

Just then, a complaint is made to Riccardo about a local witch.  The magistrate calls for her to be banished, but the page Oscar, who thinks she is quite fabulous, appeals on her account.

Riccardo tells the assembled crowd that he will see for himself, and that anyone who is up for it should join him at her house later on to witness her alleged witchcraft.

On to the next scene. Ulrica is busy summoning the spirits and demons…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NQAe1EWnso

…when Riccardo, disguised as a sailor, turns up to have his fortune told.  The rest of the courtiers haven’t arrived so he hangs around and subsequently overhears Amelia who has come to seek the witch’s advice.

Poor old Amelia pours her heart out to Ulrica, admitting that she is in love with a man who is not her husband, but his best friend.  She asks the witch to help her put her yearning heart at ease. Ulrica sends her off to the executioner’s field where she must gather a secret herb at midnight – this will put an end to her extra-marital desires.  Having heard all this, and knowing Amelia wants to stop loving him completely, Riccardo still decides it’s a great idea for him to turn up at this field too, and declare his love.

Exit Amelia and enter all the governor’s entourage (courtiers).  Riccardo – still in disguise – asks Ulrica to predict his future.  She goes all funny and tells him that he will be murdered by the next man to shake his hand.  Ever jovial, Riccardo laughs it off…he offers his hand to the assembled crowd, but no one dares shake it.  In comes Renato, late to the party, and shakes his friend’s hand in greeting – Uh oh…

On to Act Two…

Amelia is in the field and she’s a wee bit scared about everything in life really.  She has a sing about it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHemvNiH2z8

Then, lo and behold, the last person she wants to see right now rocks up – Riccardo. He declares his passion for her and forces her to admit she loves him.  That done they sing a rather lengthy love duet.

No sooner is that over with then Renato turns up to warn his friend that the plotters, who still want him dead, are close at hand.  Mortified Amelia hides beneath her veil.

Riccardo, in a show of particular stupidity, decides the best thing is if Renato leads the mysterious lady he is dallying with back to town.  One condition, he must not ask who she is, nor ask her to remove the veil.  Renato promises to fulfil his friend’s wish, assuming Riccardo is having an affair with someone’s missus and it’s best for all concerned if no one knows who she is.  Exit Riccardo.

Now the plotters turn up.

In the skirmish Amelia’s veil is thrown back and Renato realises that Riccardo’s dalliance is his own wife.  The plotters, thinking Renato and his wife are having some al fresco romance, have a good laugh about it.  Renato is heart broken.

Act Three

This kicks off with some stunning Verdi.  A tragic scene plays out between Amelia and Renato.  Furious, Renato vows to kill his wife.  She kneels before him accepting her fate, but begs that she be allowed to see their son one more time before Renato takes his revenge…

Her plea stays his hand.  He finds he has no strength to kill her, but vows that Riccardo, whose fault it is, must die.  He sings a hugely famous aria about Riccardo’s betrayal…Eri tu…

At Renato’s behest the plotters, Tom and Samuel, arrive.  Renato asks to join them. He pledges his own son’s life as a show of his sincerity. They all want to be the one to strike the killer blow, so they write their names and toss them in a hat, the winning name must be picked.  Enter Amelia, who Renato forces to pick the winner.  She draws Renato’s name.  As he celebrates his victory, she realises what is going on.  Her husband is going to murder Riccardo.

In comes the oblivious Oscar to invite them all to the masked ball that night, it is decided that Riccardo will meet his fate at the party.  A lovely little sing song ensues.

It’s just before the party, Riccardo is doing some soul searching and decides he must send Amelia and Renato away to save them from him.  He will ship them off to England.  He writes Amelia a letter…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avov3nsuQV4

The party starts.  Everyone is masked and in fancy dress. In the confusion Renato has no idea who he is meant to stab.  The page, Oscar, who knows what Riccardo is wearing, taunts him with what sounds a bit like a “na na nana na” aria…

Only then, Oscar accidentally lets the vital piece of information slip – Riccardo is wearing a black cloak with a red ribbon.

Riccardo has found Amelia in the crowd.  She tries to warn him that Renato is going to kill him, that he thinks that they are having an affair, but Riccardo silences her by letting her know he is sending both her and hubby to England.  Just as they are saying their tearful goodbyes Renato stabs Riccardo.

On his deathbed Riccardo reveals that they never actually had an affair, he forgives Renato and dies as the latter cries out his name.