Gossip is Rigoletto's stock-in-trade. As the court jester to a womanizing duke, there is plenty of scandal to go around, and his sharp tongue keeps him in gainful employment. But underneath the caustic barbs, Rigoletto is devoted to his daughter, Gilda, whom he keeps shielded from the lascivious eyes of the duke. When a nobleman lays a curse on Rigoletto for his cruel humor, the jester has no idea how far he is about to fall.
As Rigoletto's life unravels, his desperation intensifies, underscored by some of the most lyrical, heartfelt music ever written for the stage. Verdi's operatic masterpiece is a study in dualities: cynicism and tenderness, hope and despair. This production echoes these contrasts with its richly designed renaissance couture set against a striking backdrop inspired by Giorgio de Chirico.
