RIGOLETTO
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A jester courts dishonour and despair in Verdi's tragic masterpiece.
A loving father to his daughter Gilda, the jester Rigoletto allows himself to be drawn into a plot with tragic consequences. | |
"a superb piece of musical theatre. It deserves a run of full houses, and one can only hope Aucklanders take it to their hearts." - The New Zealand Herald Read full review
The intense drama and sublime music of Rigoletto have made it one of the world's favourite operas for over 150 years. In this production led by Matthew Richardson, director of 2003's bold and widely acclaimed Boris Gudunov, the story of aristocratic arrogance, fatherly love and a terrifying curse comes to the stage in all its power.
The title role of Rigoletto the court jester is one of the greatest in all musical drama. Rigoletto, hardened by a life of daily taunts, is always eager to help arrange new female prey for his employer, the Duke. But the father of one of the Duke's victims, incensed at Rigoletto's mockery, lays a solemn curse on him. Soon the jester feels the force of the curse as he discovers that the Duke's next victim is to be Rigoletto's own carefully protected daughter, Gilda.
Rigoletto's anguished attempts to rise above his weakness to save his daughter make for a heart-rending and riveting drama. Rigoletto is a must-see masterpiece.
THE NZI WINTER SEASON OF
RIGOLETTO
BY GIUSEPPE VERDI
LIBRETTO BY FRANCESCO MARIA PIAVE,
AFTER VICTOR HUGO
A new production sung in Italian with English surtitles.
| Conductor |
Nicholas Braithwaite |
| Director |
Matthew Richardson |
| |
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| Rigoletto |
Michael Lewis |
| Gilda |
Maria Constanza Nocentini |
With the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus
Accompanied by the
NGC Wellington Sinfonia (Wellington)
Auckland Philharmonia (Auckland)
Dates
AUCKLAND
27, 29, 31 May, 2, 4 June 2004
WELLINGTON
17, 19, 22, 24, 26 June 2004
For your subscription brochure and booking forms please call 04 499 8343 or 09 379 4068
