Opera Australia: Rigoletto

At the Duke’s infamous parties, one man’s words light the darkness with a sinister glitter. Among the glamorous girls and greasy gangsters, Rigoletto serves his master with sharp wits and averted eyes. He’s hideous. He’s hated. He’s untouchable. But in this shimmering world of secrets and seduction, can he keep the one he loves most safe? From the moment he wrote it, Verdi knew he had a hit on his hands. The story had everything: royalty, loyalty, deformity, devotion, lust and revenge. And the music? The music was sensational, so full of hummable tunes that Verdi demanded complete secrecy from his première cast. The tenor was forbidden from even whistling the catchy ‘La donna è mobile’ outside of rehearsals. The morning after Rigoletto’s triumphant premiere, that melody rang out in the streets: a hit for ever after. The title character Verdi called the “greatest creation” in the history of theatre had found a home in a masterpiece of music. Elijah Moshinsky’s much-loved production of Rigoletto returns to the Sydney Opera House stage, complete with its glamorous La Dolce Vita-inspired sets and costumes and scene-stealing car. The revolving dollhouse-style set gives a cinematic detail to each scene. We’ve assembled a brilliant cast led by Verdi master Renato Palumbo, and Dalibor Jenis as the tortured jester at the heart of Verdi’s masterpiece.