King Gustav is being plotted against by Ribbing and Horn and is advised of this by his friend Anckarstroem. Gustav is also in love with Anckarstroem’s wife, Amelia. He then proceeds to the gypsy, Ulrica, to have his fortune told, who warns him of death at the hand of a friend. Amelia goes to the gallows ground to find a magic herb to help her forget her feelings for Gustav. Gustav meets her there and professes his love. She wishes to remain faithful to her husband who arrives and is asked by Gustav to escort the lady from the grounds but not to remove her veil. Sam and Tom also arrive and in the confusion Amelia’s veil falls, Anckarstroem is infuriated when he sees his wife. To decide who will kill Gustav, the three men have Amelia draw a name, Anckarstroem’s name is drawn and when Oscar arrives to announce a Masked Ball they decide that this is when Gustav will be killed. At the Ball Amelia tells Gustav to flee, but before he can Anckarstroem kills him. Before he dies he states that Amelia has never been unfaithful and with his dying breath forgives all the conspirators. Anckarstroem is left alone with his remorse. Featuring: Leona Mitchell, Gillian Sullivan, Richard Greager, Malcolm Donnelly, The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Jun'ichi Hirokami. Director: John Cox. "Here, in one of his most shapely works, blending elegance and nobility of feeling with tragedy and passion and a rare vein of black humor, Verdi achieved a new fusion of music and drama which reaches Mozartean perfection." The Bulletin ."...the passion, the terror, the joy and the tragedy were all there in her (Leona Mitchell) huge, remarkably expressive, unbelievably dark and luscious soprano voice." The Australian.