Antonio Somma

Antonio Somma was an Italian poet, playwright and lawyer who wrote the libretto of Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. Having studied at Padua, he settled in Trieste, where Parisina, a tragedy written while he was still a student, made his name and won him the direction of the Teatro Comunale. He later practised law in Venice, and met Verdi there. After Cammarano's death Verdi entrusted him with Re Lear, and when it collapsed Somma wrote Un ballo in maschera instead. Verdi admired his verse and patriotism, but thought he knew little of what music needs. He wrote no other librettos.