Verdian musicodramatic expression in Un ballo in maschera

Abstract

This paper has examined the musical techniques used by Verdi in Un ballo in maschera to communicate the dramatic typology of his characters. The characters themselves are examined through the lens of the French tradition of Melodramma in order to understand their usage and deeper meaning within Verdi’s work. The musical techniques used by Verdi to express these characters dramatically are illuminated to offer depth of insight into his individual musical language and his often unrecognized nature as a “man of the theater.” The expanding role of the orchestra in the drama is examined as a feature of Verdi’s more mature style.