Photos above courtesy of Mitchell Hutchings & Bearded Lens

CAST

PRODUCTION TEAM

Opera Orlando closes its 2021-22 MainStage Verdi season with Verdi’s riveting melodrama, which is a compelling depiction of the callousness of the ruling class at the expense of those they rule over. This original and thrilling production is led by Metropolitan Opera conductor Gregory Buchalter and directed by international stage director Katheleen Belcher, both making their Opera Orlando debuts. Audiences are in for an intense evening of complex characters, an action-packed plot, and unforgettable music, including opera’s most famous quartet and one of opera’s greatest arias, “La donna è mobile.” The production will be sung in Italian with English supertitles, featuring the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, members of the Opera Orlando Chorus, and dancers from the Orlando Ballet.

Opera Orlando is providing shuttle service to both performances of Rigoletto in partnership with MEARS. The shuttle will depart from our offices and pick up from the Dr. Phillips Center. To register for shuttle service, click HERE.

MORE OF THE MAINSTAGE

MEET THE STARS LUNCHEON

Have lunch with the cast of Rigoletto and hear excerpts from Verdi’s masterpiece along with other opera favorites.

Tuesday | April 12, 2022 at 12 p.m.

Winter Park Woman's Club
419 S Interlachen Avenue | Winter Park, FL 32789

SYNOPSIS

ACT I

Scene 1 - The Duke’s palace

At a debaucherous party hosted by the Duke of Mantua, he is regaling his friend Borsa about his latest flirtation, a young woman he sees each Sunday at church. She lives in a remote street, and he knows nothing about her. As they admire the ladies of the court, the Duke then expresses his admiration for all women and his disdain for monogamy.

The party continues as Count Ceprano watches the Duke pursue his wife. Rigoletto, the court jester, takes an opportunity to tease Ceprano, while another courtier Marullo, in turn, tells the courtiers that Rigoletto has a mistress. Undeterred, Rigoletto continues to humiliate Count Ceprano in front of the Duke, and the incensed courtiers plot their revenge on the jester. Suddenly, the party is interrupted by Count Monterone whose daughter’s honor has been besmirched by the Duke. After Rigoletto taunts him for trying to protest his daughter’s lost virtue, Monterone places a curse on the Duke and his jester.

Scene 2 – A street

With Monterone’s curse weighing on him, Rigoletto encounters the assassin Sparafucile, who offers his assistance. The jester rejects his services, but left alone and heading home, Rigoletto compares how he and Sparafucile use their respective weapons: Rigoletto, his wit, and Sparafucile, his sword.

Scene 3 – Rigoletto’s home

Arriving home, Rigoletto is greeted by his daughter Gilda. When she asks Rigoletto about her family and mother, he insists that she has no family and laments that her mother, the only one to have ever loved him, died. As they are speaking, the Duke, in disguise, slips in and recognizes Rigoletto.

After Rigoletto leaves, Gilda confesses her feeling of guilt to her lady in wiating Giovanna. She wonders if she should have told her father about the man who follows her to church. Suddenly she is surprised by the Duke, disguised as a poor student, who declares his love. As she admits her feelings for him, they are interrupted by a noise outside and he leaves. Soon Rigoletto returns and encounters Marullo, Borsa, and other courtiers. They tell him that they are planning to abduct Countess Ceprano, and Rigoletto offers to join them.

On the pretext that they are all masked, Marullo covers Rigoletto’s eyes and ears with a blind fold. The courtiers break into Rigoletto’s house and kidnap Gilda while he holds the ladder. Realizing what has happened, Rigoletto is haunted by Monterone’s words.

ACT II

The Duke’s chambers

Upon returning to Rigoletto’s house, the Duke discovered that Gilda had been abducted, and he swears to avenge her. The courtiers return to the palace and relate to the Duke how they have kidnapped Rigoletto’s “mistress.” Realizing they are referring to Gilda, the Duke rushes off to her. Rigoletto enters and tries to maintain his composure as he searches for signs of his daughter. He finally realizes that Gilda is in the next room with the Duke, and he confesses to the courtiers that they have not abducted his mistress, but rather his daughter.

Gilda enters crying and Rigoletto demands for them to be left alone. Rigoletto comforts Gilda as she tells her father about the Duke’s seduction. Rigoletto decides that they will leave Mantua.

ACT III

A tavern along the river

Rigoletto and Gilda arrive along the river to spy on the disguised Duke who is awaiting the arrival of Maddalena, Sparafucile’s sister. The Duke begins to seduce Maddalena as Rigoletto and Gilda look on. Sending his daughter away, Rigoletto pays Sparafucile half of the fee to murder the Duke and says he will return at midnight to pay the balance and retrieve the body. As a storm approaches, Gilda returns dressed as a boy and listens from outside as Maddalena tries to convince her brother not to kill the Duke. Sparafucile finally yields, but only if someone comes to the tavern who he can kill in the Duke’s place. Gilda decides to give her life to save the Duke.

As midnight strikes, Rigoletto knocks on Sparafucile’s door. The assassin accepts the rest of the jester’s money and gives him the corpse which has been placed in a sack. Rigoletto gloats over his vengeance when he hears the Duke’s voice in the distance. Opening the sack, he discovers the body in the bag is his daughter. Asking for his blessing, Gilda dies in Rigoletto’s arms.

WORTH A LISTEN

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