Currently music director of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di S. Cecilia, Antonio Pappano was born in London of Italian parents. A scintillating career and a host of prestigious awards led to his knighthood last year “for his services to music”. Wrapping up the season here in Rome, Sir Tony brings Un Ballo in Maschera, Verdi’s operatic tale of dictatorship, conspiracy and assassination to the S. Cecilia stage in concert form. Thanks to the presence of a great cast including soprano Liudmyla Monastrysrska, tenor Francesco Meli and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the event promises to be a worthy tribute to Verdi. The story is set in the court of a benevolent ruler who plans a grand masquerade for the pleasure of his subjects. But his conspirators are plotting his end. The traitors, however, will only succeed if they can enlist an ally close to the king. The opera is remarkable for its lovely melodies, its fine balance of romance and tragedy, and one of opera’s greatest love duets. Auditorium Parco della Musica, Viale P. de Coubertin. For booking and information tel. 068082858, www.santacecilia.it.