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Antonio Somma
Librettist

Biography

Antonio Somma (28 August 1809, Udine – 8 August 1864, Venice) was an Italian playwright who is most well known for writing the libretto of an opera which ultimately became Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera in 1859. While a student, his tragedy, Parisina, gave him quite a success.

Initially, his contact with Verdi came about when the composer was seeking to continue work on his proposed Re Lear, an adaptation of the Shakespeare play, King Lear, for the opera stage which had begun under his long-time collaborator Salvadore Cammarano who had died. Under Verdi's supervision, Somma wrote the libretto for Re Lear, a project that Verdi never realised musically although extensive work was done and a full libretto completed to the point where Verdi was considering this to be the opera he wrote for Naples for the 1858 season.

However, Ballo had a troubled history and, originally, Somma wrote the libretto under the title of Gustavo III. As a result of required changes by, firstly, the Bourbon censors and, then, the Papal ones, it became transformed into Un vendetta in domino (with a different setting and characters' names).

Finally, for its Rome premiere, the opera became Un ballo in maschera, but with another location change (this time to Boston in colonial times) and further title and name changes.

Overall, Somma then specialized in stage plays and wrote no further libretti.


Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
COMPANYTITLEDATES
San Francisco OperaUn ballo in maschera9/6/2024 - 9/27/2024
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera10/20/2023 - 11/18/2023
Livermore Valley OperaUn ballo in maschera3/10/2018 - 3/18/2018
Opera in the HeightsUn ballo in maschera2/16/2018 - 2/24/2018
Florida Grand OperaUn ballo in maschera4/29/2017 - 5/13/2017
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera4/23/2015 - 5/9/2015
Austin OperaA Masked Ball11/8/2014 - 11/16/2014
San Francisco OperaUn ballo in maschera10/7/2014 - 10/21/2014
San Diego Opera AssociationA Masked Ball3/3/2014 - 3/16/2014
Canadian Opera CompanyUn ballo in maschera2/2/2014 - 2/22/2014
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera11/11/2012 - 12/13/2012
Madison OperaA Masked Ball10/10/2012 - 10/27/2012
New Orleans Opera AssociationUn ballo in maschera11/20/2011 - 11/20/2011
New Orleans Opera AssociationUn ballo in maschera11/18/2011 - 11/20/2011
Lyric Opera of ChicagoA Masked Ball11/11/2010 - 12/12/2010
Washington National OperaUn ballo in maschera9/9/2010 - 9/25/2010
Opera in the HeightsUn ballo in maschera1/1/2010 - 2/6/2010
Des Moines Metro OperaA Masked Ball6/6/2008 - 7/13/2008
Opera AustraliaA Masked Ball4/4/2008 - 5/10/2008
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera1/1/2008 - 12/28/2007
Wichita Grand OperaA Masked Ball12/1/2007 - 12/1/2007
Houston Grand OperaA Masked Ball10/10/2007 - 11/11/2007
Opera San Luis ObispoUn ballo in maschera10/10/2007 - 10/19/2007
Minnesota OperaA Masked Ball9/9/2007 - 9/30/2007
Opera ColoradoUn ballo in maschera4/4/2007 - 5/8/2007
Opera Santa BarbaraA Masked Ball3/3/2007 - 3/11/2007
Boston Lyric OperaUn ballo in maschera3/3/2007 - 4/10/2007
San Francisco OperaUn ballo in maschera9/9/2006 - 9/29/2006
Cincinnati OperaA Masked Ball7/7/2006 - 7/15/2006
Opera PhiladelphiaA Masked Ball10/1/2005 - 11/1/2005
Piedmont OperaUn ballo in maschera10/1/2005 - 10/11/2005
Festival OperaUn ballo in maschera7/1/2005 - 7/17/2005
Florida Grand OperaA Masked Ball4/1/2005 - 5/1/2005
Vancouver New MusicUn ballo in maschera4/1/2005 - 4/30/2005
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera4/1/2005 - 4/28/2005
Lyric Opera of Kansas CityA Masked Ball3/1/2005 - 3/20/2005
Opera ModestoUn ballo in maschera2/1/2005 - 3/1/2005
Opera QueenslandA Masked Ball10/1/2004 - 10/22/2004
Opéra de QuébecUn Bal masqué10/1/2004 - 10/22/2004
Anchorage OperaUn ballo in maschera1/1/2004 - 2/1/2004
Detroit OperaA Masked Ball10/1/2003 - 10/25/2003
Opera Lyra OttawaUn ballo in maschera4/4/2003 - 4/12/2003
Lyric Opera of ChicagoA Masked Ball2/2/2003 - 3/18/2003
Opera MemphisUn ballo in maschera2/2/2003 - 2/25/2003
Canadian Opera CompanyA Masked Ball1/1/2003 - 1/30/2003
Pittsburgh OperaUn ballo in maschera10/10/2002 - 10/26/2002
Opera AustraliaA Masked Ball7/7/2002 - 8/23/2002
Seattle OperaUn ballo in maschera5/5/2002 - 5/18/2002
Virginia OperaA Masked Ball3/3/2002 - 3/26/2002
Atlanta OperaUn ballo in maschera6/6/2001 - 6/10/2001
New National Theatre, TokyoUn ballo in maschera5/5/2001 - 5/20/2001
Opera BostonUn ballo in maschera4/4/2001 - 4/24/2001
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera1/1/2001 - 4/28/2001
Palm Beach OperaUn ballo in maschera12/9/2000 - 12/12/2000
Greensboro OperaUn ballo in maschera11/5/2000 - 11/11/2000
Arizona OperaUn ballo in maschera3/3/2000 - 3/19/2000
New National Theatre, TokyoUn ballo in maschera9/9/1999 - 9/30/1999
San Francisco OperaUn ballo in maschera9/9/1999 - 10/10/1999
San Diego Opera AssociationUn ballo in maschera5/4/1999 - 5/12/1999
Hawai'i Opera TheatreUn ballo in maschera1/1/1999 - 2/2/1999
Dallas OperaUn ballo in maschera10/29/1998 - 11/11/1998
Pacific Opera VictoriaUn ballo in maschera8/8/1998 - 8/15/1998
Nevada Opera AssociationUn ballo in maschera3/3/1998 - 3/7/1998
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera1/30/1997 - 3/7/1997
Opera Ontario, Inc.Un ballo in maschera9/1/1996 - 9/28/1996
Teatro Municipal De SantiagoUn ballo in maschera8/8/1996 - 9/9/1996
Florida Grand OperaUn ballo in maschera4/1/1996 - 5/1/1996
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera11/11/1995 - 12/13/1995
Knoxville OperaA Masked Ball9/1/1995 - 10/1/1995
Teatro Municipal De SantiagoUn ballo in maschera8/8/1995 - 9/9/1995
Kentucky OperaA Masked Ball10/1/1994 - 10/17/1994
Connecticut OperaUn ballo in maschera11/1/1993 - 11/19/1993
Los Angeles OperaUn ballo in maschera9/1/1993 - 9/19/1993
Des Moines Metro OperaA Masked Ball6/1/1993 - 7/1/1993
Opera AustraliaUn ballo in maschera4/1/1993 - 5/1/1993
Lyric Opera of ChicagoUn ballo in maschera2/1/1993 - 12/18/1992
Utah Symphony | Utah OperaUn ballo in maschera10/1/1992 - 10/19/1992
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera9/1/1992 - 9/30/1992
Sacramento Philharmonic & OperaUn ballo in maschera9/1/1992 - 9/22/1992
Pittsburgh OperaUn ballo in maschera5/1/1992 - 5/17/1992
Manitoba OperaUn ballo in maschera4/1/1992 - 4/28/1992
Pacific Opera VictoriaA Masked Ball2/1/1992 - 2/22/1992
Metropolitan OperaUn ballo in maschera2/1/1992 - 11/1/1991
Chattanooga SymphonyUn ballo in maschera11/1/1991 - 11/9/1991
Cincinnati OperaUn ballo in maschera7/1/1991 - 7/13/1991


Artist Information

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