Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball), is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. The opera´s first production was at the Teatro Apollo, ROme, February 17, 1859.

The opera is based on the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden, but is not historically accurate. During its composition, Verdi was asked by government censors to make many changes to the opera due to its politically sensitive subject matter.

Despiteits tragic conclusion, Un ballo in maschera has many moments of the brilliance and irony associated with comedy - a mixture which has led critics to label it "Shakespearean".

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