Un ballo in maschera

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/un-ballo-in-maschera

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the opera premiere location?Teatro Apollo, Rome
2. What is the librettist?Antonio Somma
3. What is "Un ballo in maschera" about?It is an opera by Giuseppe Verdi that tells the story of a king who is killed at a masked ball, inspired by the real assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden.
4. Why did the opera change its name and location many times?The story of a king being killed was seen as too political, so censorship forced Verdi to revise the opera, change its title, and move it to different places before it could be performed.

Regicide: The act of killing a king or queen.
Political Conspiracy: A secret plan by a group of people to overthrow or harm a government or ruler.
Artistic Compromise: An agreement where an artist modifies their work to satisfy external demands or constraints.