Rigoletto

Synopsis

Rigoletto, the hunchbacked court jester wants revenge. His beloved daughter, Gilda, has been abducted and seduced by the Duke and he hires a hit-man to assassinate him. Tragedy prevails in Verdi's masterpiece of love, lust and betrayal. Based on Hugo's Le roi s'amuse. First performed at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851

Our Review:

24 September 2009

Back for its 12th revival in its 27-year history, Jonathan Miller’s iconic English National Opera production of Verdi’s Victor Hugo adaptation Rigoletto has lost none of its visceral power or sheer theatrical thrill. This is a fine revival of a production that remains an almost perfect introduction to opera for newcomers, as much as welcome return of an old friend to operatic old hands.

ENO seems to be following the current 80s revival. Its two opening productions this September were common to its season 27 years ago. While this Rigoletto revival opened on the eve of its 27th birthday (it premièred on 22 September 1982), the ENO’s first production of Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre followed the same season on 2 December 1982 – but presumably their combination within a week 27 years on (the Ligeti in its revised version) was purely coincidental.

Both demand to be seen, but there is something quite special about Miller’s...

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