VERDI

RIGOLETTO, opera in three acts on a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, 

based on the play Le Roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo (semi-staged version) 

Rigoletto was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere and is considered by many to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi’s middle-to-late career. Its tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s beautiful daughter Gilda. The opera’s original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to the curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter had been seduced by the Duke with Rigoletto’s encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda likewise falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassins hired by her father.

Main roles:

Rigoletto, the Duke’s jester: Andrea Carneavale / Giulio Boschetti

Gilda, his daughter / Roberta Scalavino / Graziana Palazzo

Duke of Mantua: Giovanni Leccese / Edoardo Milletti

Sparafucile, as assassin: Giacomo Selicato 

Maddalena, his sister: Olga Podgornova / Rita Sorbello

Orchestra, Choir and Soloists of the ICM

Director: Maurizio Pellegrini

Vocal Coach: Francesca Ruospo, Lucrezia Messa

Chorus Master: Christian Ugenti

Conductor: Francesco Masi