Antonio Somma

Antonio Somma was an Italian poet, playwright and lawyerBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450. who wrote the libretto of Verdi's Un ballo in mascheraBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.Wikipedia (2026) Antonio Somma. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).. Having studied at Padua, he settled in TriesteBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450., where Parisina, a tragedy written while he was still a student, made his nameBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.Wikipedia (2026) Antonio Somma. (Accessed: 30 September 2026). and won him the direction of the Teatro ComunaleBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.. He later practised law in Venice, and met Verdi thereBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.. After Cammarano's death Verdi entrusted him with Re Lear, and when it collapsed Somma wrote Un ballo in maschera insteadBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.Wikipedia (2026) Antonio Somma. (Accessed: 30 September 2026).. Verdi admired his verse and patriotism, but thought he knew little of what music needsBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.. He wrote no other librettosBlack, J. (1992) 'Somma, Antonio', in Sadie, S. (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. London: Macmillan Reference, vol. 4, p. 450.Wikipedia (2026) Antonio Somma. (Accessed: 30 September 2026)..