Rigoletto

Act I. At a party in his palace, the Duke of Mantua tells the revellers about a beautiful, unknown woman whom he has been observing for the last three months. Unembarrassed, he proceeds to flirt with Countess Ceprano, whose husband is mocked by the Duke’s hunchbacked jester, Rigoletto. A courtier reports that the hated jester has a mistress. Count Monterone enters and demands justice for his daughter, whom the Duke has dishonoured. For him, too, Rigoletto has only contempt, so that Monterone curses him. On his way home, Rigoletto meets Sparafucile, a hired assassin, whose services he declines for now. At home, he is greeted by his daughter Gilda, whom he has anxiously hidden away from the eyes of the world. Unnoticed, the Duke slips into the compound and discovers the identity of his unknown beauty. Rigoletto leaves, and the Duke importunes Gilda until she finally admits that she loves him. Noises from the street drive the Duke away. His courtiers have come to abduct the woman whom they assume is Rigoletto’s mistress. Claiming that their intended victim is actually Countess Ceprano, they even persuade Rigoletto to help them. Too late he discovers that he has been tricked and recalls Monterone’s curse.

Act II. The courtiers tell the Duke that they have abducted Rigoletto’s mistress and brought her to the palace. The Duke realizes what has happened and hurries to be with Gilda. Rigoletto pretends to be unmoved by the loss of his daughter, but when it becomes clear to him that she is alone with the Duke, he loses all self-control. Gilda rushes in and admits to her father in private that she loves the Duke. Unmoved by Gilda’s entreaties, Rigoletto vows to be avenged on the Duke.

Act III. From her hiding place outside Sparafucile’s tavern, Gilda sees how shamelessly the Duke is flirting with the assassin’s sister, Maddalena. Rigoletto agrees with Sparafucile that the latter will murder the Duke. Returning a short time later, Gilda decides to sacrifice her own life in order to save that of the faithless Duke, whom she still loves. Sparafucile stabs her on the stroke of midnight and hands her body to Rigoletto in a sack. Suddenly the Duke’s voice is heard in the distance. Rigoletto opens the sack and discovers his daughter, who dies in his arms. Monterone’s curse has come true. /Eva Reisinger/

1851

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

Teatro Regio di Parma

Orchestra del Teatro Regio di Parma

Conducted by Massimo Zanetti

Staged by Stefano Vizioli

Cast: Francesco Demuro, Leo Nucci, Nino Machaidze, Marco Spotti, Stefanie Iranyi, Katarina Nikolic, Roberto Tagliavini, Orazio Mori, Mauro Buffoli