Rigoletto, Verdi's masterpiece of 1851, presents a magnificent, deeply moving characterization of a hunchbacked court jester consumed by bitterness and revenge.
Sunday 4 November at 6.00pm on RNZ Concert
There’s no character in opera more powerfully dramatic than the court jester Rigoletto, whose acid tongue and all-consuming desire for revenge lead to catastrophe for himself and his sweet, love-struck daughter Gilda.
Count Monterone's curse on Rigoletto initiates the drama of the opera.
Gilda is seduced and later abandoned by the licentious Duke of Mantua.
Sparafucile is the assassin hired by Rigoletto to murder the Duke.
Cast:
Matthew Polenzani (Duke of Mantua), Quinn Kelsey (Rigoletto), Rosa Feola (Gilda), Mario Rojas (Borsa), Takaoki Onishi (Marullo), Alan Higgs (Count Ceprano), Whitney Morrison (Countess Ceprano), Todd Thomas (Count Monterone), Alexander Tsymbalyuk (Sparafucile), Chorus and Orchestra of Chicago Lyric Opera conducted by Marco Armiliato
Recorded in Lyric Opera House, Chicago (WFMT)