Rigoletto- Staatsopera van Tatarstan
My third CA was an opera. Actually it was a very famous
opera, namely Rigoletto.
Background
It was written by Giuseppe Verdi, an Italian romantic
composer, who also wrote IL trovatore, La traviata, Aida,
Macbeth (based on Shakespeare’s play of the same name.)
and many other works.) Rigoletto is also one of the most
popular of Verdi’s operas and is based on the book ‘Le Roi ‘s
Amuse’by Victor Hugo. It premiered in Venice in 1851 but
faced some troubles beforehand. The Venetian censorship
wouldn’t allow having a sovereign (criticised) on stage. So Verdi replaced The King of France with the
Duke of Mantua. Some other changes were made as well, mostly concerning the music. A returning
feature in the opera was the air La Donna è mobile. Rigoletto was so convinced of his success with
this air that he forbade his orchestra and singers to play or sing this before the play would premiere.
The air became immensely popular and was whistled on the streets by everyone. The public loved
Rigoletto and felt bad for the jester.
Synopsis
The play start with a rather dark setting but quickly
the mood turns around and we see a ball hosted by
the Duke of Mantua. The duke is very interested in all
the ladies and gives them a lot of attention. Then he
sees a girl in the church and is so enchanted by her
that he makes it his mission to seduce her. Count
Monterone enters and accuses the duke of seducing
his daughter which makes the jester, Rigoletto, make
fun of him. The count curses both of them and leaves.
Afterwards Rigoletto meets the assassin Sparafucile
but denies his help. Rigoletto finally goes home to his
daughter Gilda whose existence is kept entirely secret. After Rigoletto has left her she tells about this
guy she saw in church, (the duke, but she doesn’t know this). The duke overhears and enters, telling
her that his name is Gaultier Maldè and he loves her. The noblemen from the ball trick Rigoletto and
abduct his presumed girlfriend (Gilda). They bring her to the duke, who is quite excited with this, and
later on Rigoletto confesses that Gilda is his daughter. However he swears vengeance against the
duke. When Gilda and Rigoletto visit Sparafucile they overhear the duke flirting with Maddalena
(sparafucile’s sister). Rigoletto makes a deal with Sparafucile to kill the duke. Then Gilda overhears
another conversation in which Sparafucile promises his daught