Music Director James Conlon conducts the emotionally riveting production of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the LA Opera (Music Center). Director Tomer Zvulun brings the classic 19th century opera into 1930’s fascist Italy. Jessica Hahn’s costumes populate the scene with masked men in tuxedos, scantily dressed dancing girls, clowns, and jugglers. Erhard Rom’s massive stark grey sets adorned with mythic figures have a surface beauty that hides a deep moral decay.
Verdi’s Rigoletto at the LA Opera
Photos by Kyle Flubacker; courtesy of LA Opera
Baritone Quinn Kelsey, with his forceful presence and also emotionally nuanced vocal power, stars as the tragic Rigoletto. The Duke of Mantua is performed with confident buoyancy by tenor René Barbera. The role of Gilda was performed by soprano Lisette Oropesa whose vocal range clearly rings the highest notes. Soprano Kathryn Lewek will perform the role in the final two performances. Baritone Blake Denson makes his company debut as Monterone. Bass Peixin Chen and mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino portray the scheming Sparafucile and Maddalena.
The cast also includes several current members of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn Stein Young Artist Program: tenor Nathan Bowles as Borsa, baritone Hyungjin Son as Marullo, bass Vinícius Costa as Count Ceprano, Gabrielle Turgeon as both Countess Ceprano and the Page, and mezzo-soprano Madeleine Lyon as Giovanna. Chorus Director Jeremy Frank and Choreographer Ricardo Apoute bring together a talented and cohesive supporting cast of performers.
Rigoletto Synopsis
Verdi based Rigoletto on Victor Hugo’s 1832 play Le roi s’amuse (The King Amuses Himself). The narrative as well as the symbolism of the ‘father’s curse’ drive the opera’s themes of love, betrayal, vengeance, and tragedy.The humpbacked court jester Rigoletto ridicules Count Monterone, whose daughter the Duke has dishonored. The enraged Count calls upon divine justice to punish both the Duke and Rigoletto.
The curse torments Rigoletto as he tries to protect his daughter, Gilda, whom the Duke also seduces with his relentless debauchery. Verdi’s music captures the characters’ emotional depth and complexity throughout the opera. As the opera nears its tragic end, the Duke arrogantly sings the recognizable aria “La donna è mobile.”
Rigoletto convulses in pain hearing the ditty about the women’s fickleness that mocks the depth and sacrifice of Gilda’s devotion. The “curse” devastates Rigoletto but also challenges him deeply as it has appeared throughout history. What are the repercussions of hiding behind a mask and not confronting the abuse of power within a corrupt system?
The show runs through June 21, 2025 – see the LA Opera Rigoletto Feature on LAArtParty for more information about the production. To purchase tickets go to LAOpera.org
