UN BALLO IN MASCHERA (A Masked Ball) - Verdi
Set at the meeting under the gallows at midnight, the picture tries to capture something about the nature of disguise and deception. Riccardo stands at the back right of the picture, almost like a stalker or voyeur. The implicit threat is shown by the skull just to the right of Amelia's hands, and the noose which is almost directly over her head. A single mask, of the sort used in Venetian carnival is half-way between them. The landscape is broken and jagged, the foliage looks sickly and diseased, and the rising mist obscures them still more. It is not a happy place but an area of magic and mystery, very dangerous to anybody who want to inhabit it.
Synopsys
While planning a masked ball, Riccardo Count of Warwick, learns from his faithful friend and secretary Renato, that there is a conspiracy against him. He decides to pay a visit to a local fortune-teller. Concealed behind a curtain he finds that Renato's wife Amelia, whom Riccardo secretly loves, is already there. He stays to hear her, and discovers that her mission is to be cured of the illicit love she bears for him. The fortune-teller informs her that she can be cured, but must search for a certain herb beneath the gallows at midnight. When Amelia goes he consults the fortune-teller, who tells him he will be murdered by the first person to shake his hand. As he leaves Renato enters and firmly grasps his hand. Trusting him entirely, Riccardo then dismisses the prediction.
Having discovered that Amelia returns his love, and when and where she will be alone, Riccardo follows her to the gibbet, where she is gathering the magic herb. Luckily she is heavily veiled, since a few moments later Renato appears to warn Riccardo the conspirators are lying in wait. Riccardo makes Renato escort Amelia back to the city while he takes a different route, having made Renato promise he will make no attempt to discover her identity. Of course it is Renato and Amelia who are stopped by the conspirators, who have no qualms in unveiling Amelia.
In a rage he decides to join with the conspirators, and has Amelia draw the name from a pot as to who will commit the murder. It is of course Renato.
Riccardo, knowing nothing that has happened, continues with his planned ball. Renato learns what his disguise will be, and attends the ball ready to kill him. Riccardo meets with Amelia at the ball, and tells her that so as not to deceive his friend, he is going to send the pair of them away. As he announces this Renato appears and shoots him in the back.
All images and text Copyright © 2003 Caroline Blackburn.