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RigolettoOpera in Three Acts World Premiere: Venice, Teatro La Fenice, March 11, 1851 U.S. Premiere: New York, Academy of Music, February 19, 1855 Metropolitan Opera Premiere: November 16, 1883 (in Italian) |
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Cast & Characters
The Cast
Conductor: Paolo Arrivabeni
Gilda: Nino Machaidze
Maddalena: Kirstin Chávez
Duke of Mantua: Joseph Calleja
Rigoletto: Giovanni Meoni
Sparafucile: Stefan Kocán
The Characters
Gilda (soprano) - Rigoletto's daughter, a pious young girl who only leaves her house to go to church. The Duke has fallen in love with her.
Maddalena (mezzo-soprano) - Sparafucile's sister, a woman of loose morals.
Giovanna (mezzo-soprano) - Gilda's nurse and Rigoletto's housekeeper. An elderly woman, she is easily bribed by the Duke to keep his presence in the garden unknown.
Duke of Mantua (tenor) - A handsome, wealthy, charming, and selfish ladies' man.
Rigoletto (baritone) - The hunchbacked jester of the Duke's court. He hates the Duke and his depraved courtiers; the only joy in his life is his daughter Gilda.
Sparafucile (bass) - A hired assassin who operates from a tavern on the outskirts of town.
Ceprano (bass) - A member of the Duke's court. He endures Rigoletto's mockery when the Duke pursues his wife.
Count Monterone (bass) - A courtier whose daughter is seduced by the Count. Mercilessly teased by Rigoletto, Monterone places a curse on the jester.

