Cast

Act I

Scene I
In the audience hall of the palace, the dignitaries eagerly await the arrival of Governor Riccardo. He enters, greeting them graciously. Among those present, however, are his hidden enemies, Samuel and Tom, unknown to him. His page, Oscar, brings the list of guests for the masked ball. Riccardo’s heart leaps with joy when he sees the name of Amelia – the woman he secretly loves, yet the wife of his loyal friend and secretary, Renato.

The magistrate orders the banishment of the sorceress Ulrica, accused of witchcraft. Oscar passionately defends her, and Riccardo, curious to test her powers, decides to visit her in disguise as a fisherman.

Scene II
Ulrica’s lair. Before a gathered crowd, Ulrica invokes the powers of darkness. Among the spectators is Riccardo, disguised. The sailor Silvano asks her to foretell his fate; Ulrica predicts promotion and a rich reward. Secretly, Riccardo slips the sailor a promotion order and a purse of gold, making the prophecy immediately true.

Later, a servant announces the visit of a lady from high society. The crowd disperses, leaving only Riccardo, who recognizes Amelia’s maid. Hidden, he overhears Amelia pleading with Ulrica to give her a remedy that will cure her forbidden love for the Governor. Ulrica instructs her to gather a magical herb at midnight beneath the gallows.

After Amelia departs, Riccardo offers his hand to Ulrica to learn his fate. Reluctantly, she predicts his death at the hand of a friend — the first to shake his hand. At that moment, Renato enters unknowingly and shakes Riccardo’s hand. Silvano soon recognizes the Governor, and the crowd hails him with acclamations.

Act II

Scene III
At the city’s outskirts, on a barren field lit by the gallows, Amelia comes trembling to collect the destined herb. In the darkness, a figure appears: Riccardo. He confesses his love, discovering with joy that it is reciprocated. Their idyll is interrupted by Renato, who warns Riccardo that conspirators are pursuing him. Riccardo withdraws, entrusting his friend to escort the mysterious woman safely back to the city without revealing her identity.

Soon, Samuel, Tom, and the other conspirators arrive. Furious at losing their prize, they seek to uncover the woman’s identity. Despite Renato’s objections, Amelia is unmasked. Feeling betrayed and humiliated, Renato succumbs to anger and joins the Governor’s enemies.

Act III

Scene IV
In his study, Renato accuses Amelia of infidelity. She prays desperately, asking only to embrace her young son one last time. Moved, Renato spares her life but resolves that Riccardo must die. When Samuel and Tom arrive, he burns the denunciation prepared against the conspirators, proving his loyalty to them. The three write their names on slips of paper and place them in an urn. Amelia is forced to draw a lot: fate chooses Renato himself. Oscar brings the invitations for the masked ball — the place where the murder will be carried out.

Scene V
In his apartments, Riccardo decides to send Renato and Amelia into exile, hoping to resolve the conflict between duty and passion. He receives a letter: Amelia begs him not to appear at the ball, where death awaits him. Yet the warning only increases his desire to see her once more.

Scene VI
At the masked ball, the conspirators hide in the crowd, awaiting him. Unaware, Oscar describes his master’s costume to them. Riccardo arrives. Amelia meets him and implores him through tears to leave. He affirms his resolve: the next day he will send her and Renato to England. The two lovers bid farewell, embracing. Renato, witnessing the scene, strikes Riccardo fatally. In his final moments, Riccardo commands the guards to spare the assassin, proclaims Amelia’s innocence, forgives his enemies, and breathes his last.