Rigoletto

Story

Synopsis

A Victor Hugo play, haunting and scandalous, provided the inspiration for Verdi’s mid-career masterpiece. A vengeful but misguided court jester strives to save his daughter from a duke’s licentious clutches, but can't part with the feeling that a curse looms over all of his actions. In Rigoletto, the composer introduces several of his most iconic arias and duets—as well as an 11th-hour quartet that counts among the finest moments in opera.

Directors

John Dexter, Kirk Browning

Writers

Victor Hugo, Francesco Maria Piave

Language

Italian

Country

United States of America

Release date

7 November 1977

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Cornell MacNeil

  Rigoletto

• 

  Ileana Cotrubas

  Gilda

• 

  Justino Díaz

  Sparafucile

• 

  Plácido Domingo

  The Duke of Mantua

• 

  Isola Jones

  Maddelena

• Ariel Bybee

  Giovanna

• John Cheek

  Monterone

• Philip Booth

  Il Conte di Ceprano

• Loretta di Franco

  La Contessa di Ceprano

• James Atherton

  Borsa

• Robert Goodloe

  Marullo

• 

  James Levine

  Self - Conductor