Masquerade Ball ”Un ballo in maschera”

The Alumni Association “Maria Callas” of the Music School of Kalamata invites us to a special carnival ball inspired by the world of opera. The event will take place “in the salon of the Governor’s mansion in Boston, Ricardo, Count of Warwick, where we will enjoy music, exquisite food, and, of course, our drinks.”

Political intrigues, passionate love affairs, betrayals, magic, and the atmosphere of the early 1700s, set against the backdrop of a masquerade ball, are key elements of Verdi’s opera Un ballo in maschera—or, in Greek, A Masked Ball. An opera famously performed by Maria Callas during her illustrious career.

Drawing inspiration from this masterpiece, the organizers invite us on Monday, February 17, to the foyer of the Kalamata Cultural Center—or rather, the Governor’s Mansion—where we will be welcomed by the Count of Warwick, or Richard, or King Gustav III of Sweden, the formidable Witch Ulrica, Amelia, and Reinhart.

Although the opera was originally set in Sweden, it was relocated to Boston due to political pressures. Initially, the plot revolved around King Gustav III of Sweden, who was indeed assassinated at a masquerade ball in 1792. However, this scene was deemed too sensitive for the time, given that Italy was under strict censorship. As a result, Verdi and his librettist, Antonio Somma, transferred the story to 18th-century Boston, placing it in North America with the king transformed into Richard (Riccardo), the Governor of Boston, who faces political conspiracies and personal betrayals.

The plot centers on Governor Riccardo, who is secretly in love with Amelia, the wife of his dear friend Reinhart.

The political intrigues, which are evident from the very first act, reach their climax, and the final act of this tragedy unfolds at a grand masquerade ball!