Un ballo in maschera - Royal Ballet and Opera
Royal Opera House
- Opens: Monday, 30 November 2026 -
Booking until: Friday, 18 December 2026 - Running time: 2hr 50 min. Incl. 1 interval.
Un ballo in maschera - Royal Ballet and Opera description
Un ballo in maschera is one of Verdi's most captivating and dramatically rich operas, weaving together political intrigue, forbidden love, and fateful betrayal in a story that crackles with tension from the first bar to the last. This is grand opera at its most passionate and its most unpredictable — a night at the Royal Opera House that will leave you breathless.
At the heart of the opera stands Riccardo, a governor torn between his duty and his longing for Amelia, the wife of his most trusted friend and adviser Renato. When their secret is exposed, loyalty curdles into murderous rage, and a masked ball becomes the setting for a reckoning none of them can escape. Verdi's score surges with arias of aching beauty and ensembles of extraordinary dramatic power, capturing every shade of love, jealousy, and despair.
This Royal Opera House production is directed by Katharina Thoma, with the baton in the hands of Antonio Pappano, whose affinity for Verdi is legendary. Their collaboration promises an evening of musical and theatrical excellence that fully honours the opera's dramatic weight.
The stellar cast brings the story vividly to life, led by Freddie De Tommaso in the title role alongside Lianna Haroutounian as Amelia and Luca Salsi as the vengeful Renato. Together they deliver performances of searing intensity.
Whether you are a lifelong opera devotee or discovering Verdi for the first time, Un ballo in maschera at the Royal Opera House is an unmissable experience — a masterpiece performed at the very highest level.
