Composed by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
As the libertine Duke of Mantua's jaded jester, Rigoletto is known for sparing no one his biting and often vicious sarcasm. But when courtiers abduct Rigoletto's beloved daughter, Gilda, for the Duke's enjoyment, a curse and misdirected revenge bring tragedy and are Rigoletto's undoing.
Last Performed at WNO: Mar 29, 31, Apr 1, 3, 6m, 8, 9, 12, 13m, 2008
Kennedy Center Opera House
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
This production was made possible though the generous support of General Dynamics.
The Duke of Mantua: Joseph Calleja†/Alexey Dolgov*
Matteo Borsa: Yingxi Zhang‡
Rigoletto: Carlos Álvarez/Gordon Hawkins
Sparafucile: Andrea Silvestrelli*
Gilda: Lyubov Petrova/JiYoung Lee±
Giovanna: Magdalena Wór‡
Maddalena: Małgorzata Walewska*
Conductor: Giovanni Reggioli
Director: Catherine Malfitano
* Washington National Opera Debut
‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist
± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist
† Operalia Winner
Rigoletto photo by Karin Cooper for Washington National Opera.