The New Season of the National Theatre in Belgrade Begins on 1st October with the Premiere Revival of Verdi’s Opera Un Ballo In Maschera (A Masked Ball)

The new, 157th season of the National Theatre in Belgrade will be officially opened on 1st October  on the Main Stage (7:00 p.m.) with the premiere revival of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Un ballo in maschera, under the baton of maestro Bojan Suđić.

The direction of Božidar Đurović has been revived by Ivana Dragutinović Maričić. This great Verdi’s masterpiece is returning to our stage after a long hiatus.

The Artistic Director of the Opera, Ljubica Vraneš, stresses that the choice of this particular piece was significant for several reasons. 

“This Verdi’s opera carries a powerful message about love, betrayal, and social tensions. The music is extremely inspiring and provides much room for artistic expression. Moreover, it allows our ensemble to showcase its capacities and attract a wider audience,” Ljubica Vraneš notes.

Un ballo in maschera, whose libretto is based on Eugène Scribe’s drama Gustave III, is inspired by a historical event – the assassination of the Swedish king at a masked ball in Stockholm in 1792. However, due to censorship that prevented the direct depiction of historical figures and events, Verdi and librettist Antonio Somma moved the plot to a 17th-century Puritan colony in North America. Thus, King Gustav became Riccardo, Earl of Warwick and Governor of Boston.

The story is about the forbidden love between Riccardo and Amelia, the wife of his most loyal friend Renato. Duty, honour, betrayal, revenge, and forgiveness intertwine in a powerful drama, while Verdi’s music brings to life emotional and dramatic contrasts through some of the most beautiful arias in his repertoire.

In the premiere cast, on 1st October, the main roles will be performed by: Janko Sinadinović (Riccardo), Dragutin Matić (Renato), Jasmina Trumbetaš Petrović (Amelia), Vesna Đurković (Oscar), and Anastasija Pavlović (Ulrica). The ensemble members are also Miroslav Markovski, Vuk Matić, Mihailo Šljivić, and Slobodan Živković.

The Orchestra and Choir of the Opera of the National Theatre in Belgrade also participate in the performance.

Concertmaster is Petar Živanović, and choir director is Nina Fuštar.

Un ballo in maschera, which premiered on the National Theatre stage in 1927, has lived for over a century through numerous revivals and artistic interpretations.