Who wrote the libretto for the opera Rigoletto?
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo.
What makes Rigoletto a good opera?
Rigoletto himself gets no flashy arias; his music is punchier and more declamatory, an uneasy mix of both worlds. With a great balance between the grand and the intimate, from plush palace to rundown inn, Rigoletto is an opera that has it all. A count in the Duke's court.
What is the history of Rigoletto?
See Article History. Rigoletto, opera in three acts by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave) that premiered at La Fenice opera house in Venice on March 11, 1851.
How many acts are there in Rigoletto?
Rigoletto, opera in three acts by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave) that premiered at La Fenice opera house in Venice on March 11, 1851. Based closely on the controversial 1832 play Le Roi s’amuse ( The King Amuses Himself; also performed in English as The King’s Fool) by Victor Hugo,...
What is the best opera to see for a beginner?
Beginner's Guide to Famous OperasLa bohème - Giacomo Puccini. English National Opera. ... Carmen - Georges Bizet. English National Opera. ... Tosca - Puccini. English National Opera. ... La Traviata - Giuseppe Verdi. English National Opera. ... The Magic Flute - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. English National Opera. ... The Ring Cycle - Richard Wagner.
Why is Rigoletto so popular?
Rigoletto is a classic Italian opera containing some wonderful music. The opera depicts a dystopian world filled with immoral, tragic, and flawed characters. Despite some unpleasantness, it's compelling for many people. It was composed by Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) and had its first performance in 1851.
What is verdis best opera?
Verdi is famed for three of his operas: Rigoletto (1851) Il trovatore (1853), and La traviata (1853). Although these are the works that truly cemented his status as one of the opera greats, he was already dominating the nineteenth century Italian opera scene with some (now) lesser-known works.
What genre of opera is Rigoletto?
tragic operaThe Opera Rigoletto Rigoletto is a tragic opera by Italian Romantic period composer Giuseppe Verdi, based on a play by Victor Hugo. Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto was first performed in Venice, in 1851, and solidified Verdi's place among the elite of Europe's composers.
How long does the opera Rigoletto last?
two hours and 45 minutesRigoletto — Opera Orlando. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Estimated run time is two hours and 45 minutes with two intermissions.
What does the word Rigoletto mean?
It was at this stage that Rigoletto gained its name with the hunchback jester Triboulet becoming Rigoletto, a name taken from the title of another Hugo play, Rigoletti, ou Le dernier des fous. Rigolo means funny in French!
What is considered the most beautiful opera?
1) Mozart's Marriage of Figaro (1786)
What is considered the best opera of all time?
The 10 Best Operas of All TimePorgy and Bess by George Gershwin, 1935. ... The Barber of Seville (Il barbiere di Siviglia) by Gioachino Rossini, 1816. ... La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, 1896. ... La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, 1853. ... Die Walküre by Richard Wagner, 1870. ... Tosca by Giacomo Puccini, 1900.More items...
What is considered the best opera ever written?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – The Marriage of Figaro Considered by audiences and performers alike as one of the best operas ever written, you may recognise the 'Sull'aria' duet between Susanna and the Countess, or the heart-wrenching aria 'Porgi, amor'.
What is the theme of the opera Rigoletto?
Giuseppe Verdi was an Italian composer who specialized in operas. His opera Rigoletto tells the dramatic story of an immoral nobleman, the Duke of Mantua, who seduces the innocent Gilda, and the tragic outcome that results when her father and protagonist, Rigoletto, seeks vengeance.
What is the curse in Rigoletto?
The opera's original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto's encouragement....RigolettoBased onLe roi s'amuse by Victor HugoPremiere11 March 1851 La Fenice, Venice4 more rows
What is the aria from Rigoletto?
La donna è mobileCaro nome che il mio corBella figlia dell'amoreRigoletto/Arias
What was Giuseppe Verdi's most famous piece?
RigolettoIn the meantime he had composed three operas that remain his best known and best loved: Rigoletto (1851), Il trovatore (1853; The Troubadour), and La traviata (1853).
What is the theme of Rigoletto?
His opera Rigoletto tells the dramatic story of an immoral nobleman, the Duke of Mantua, who seduces the innocent Gilda, and the tragic outcome that results when her father and protagonist, Rigoletto, seeks vengeance.
What is the climax of Rigoletto?
RIGOLETTO ACT III The third act is regarded as the musical climax of the opera, in which the contrasts collide and lead to a catastrophe.
Is Rigoletto a true story?
Actually the plot of the opera is fictional. At very first the beginning Verdi wanted to set the musical drama in Paris, at the court Francois I, depicting the king as an immoral and cynical womanizer.
What is the opera Rigoletto?
Teatro La Fenice, Venice. Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere ...
What year did Rigoletto premiere?
Rigoletto premiered on 11 March 1851 in a sold-out La Fenice as the first part of a double bill with Giacomo Panizza 's ballet Faust. Gaetano Mares conducted, and the sets were designed and executed by Giuseppe Bertoja and Francesco Bagnara. The opening night was a complete triumph, especially the scena drammatica and the Duke's cynical aria, " La donna è mobile ", which was sung in the streets the next morning (Verdi had maximised the aria's impact by only revealing it to the cast and orchestra a few hours before the premiere, and forbidding them to sing, whistle or even think of the melody outside of the theatre). Many years later, Giulia Cora Varesi, the daughter of Felice Varesi (the original Rigoletto), described her father's performance at the premiere. Varesi was very uncomfortable with the false hump he had to wear; he was so uncertain that, even though he was quite an experienced singer, he had a panic attack when it was his turn to enter the stage. Verdi immediately realised he was paralysed and roughly pushed him on the stage, so he appeared with a clumsy tumble. The audience, thinking it was an intentional gag, was very amused.
What is the story of the opera La Maledizione?
The work, Verdi's sixteenth in the genre, is widely considered to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi's middle-to-late career. Its tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto's daughter Gilda. The opera's original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.
What does Rigoletto order Gilda to do?
Rigoletto orders Gilda to put on a man's clothes to prepare to leave for Verona and tells her that he plans to follow later. After she leaves, he completes his bargain with the assassin, who is ready to murder his guest for 20 scudi. Rigoletto then withdraws.
How does Marullo advise the Duke to get rid of Ceprano?
He humorously advises the Duke to get rid of Count Ceprano by prison, exile, or death. The Duke laughs indulgently, but Ceprano is not amused. Marullo, one of the guests at the ball, informs the courtiers that Rigoletto has a "lover", which astonishes them.
When did Verdi complete Rigoletto?
By 14 January, the opera's definitive title had become Rigoletto. Verdi finally completed the composition on 5 February 1851, a little more than a month before the premiere. Piave had already arranged for the sets to be designed while Verdi was still working on the final stages of act 3.
When did Verdi close the door on opera?
Just after 1850 at the age of 38 Verdi closed the door on a period of Italian opera with Rigoletto. The so-called ottocento in music is finished. Verdi will continue to draw on certain of its forms for the next few operas, but in a totally new spirit.
Who wrote the libretto for Rigoletto?
Rigoletto, opera in three acts by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave) that premiered at La Fenice opera house in Venice on March 11, 1851. Based closely on the controversial 1832 play Le Roi s’amuse ( The King Amuses Himself; also performed in English as The King’s Fool) by Victor Hugo, ...
Where is Rigoletto set?
Rigoletto is set in Mantua, Italy, in the 16th century.
What does Rigoletto tell Gilda?
Rigoletto shakes off his fears and enters the courtyard of his house, where Gilda, his young daughter, throws herself into his arms. Noticing that her father is troubled, she begs him to tell her what is wrong. Gilda, not knowing her own history, wants him to tell her who he really is and who her mother was. Rigoletto, sighing, describes his lost love, a woman who loved him despite his deformity and poverty. Sadly, she died, leaving Gilda to console him. He will not tell her anything else, only that she is his whole life. Gilda accepts his reticence and asks permission to go out into the city, which she has yet to explore. Rigoletto adamantly refuses and pointedly asks if she has already gone out. She says no, and he warns her to be careful. Secretly, he fears that the courtiers will find Gilda and dishonour her. He calls for her nurse, Giovanna, and asks whether anyone has been to the house. She says no, and Rigoletto urges her to keep a close watch on Gilda. His daughter proceeds to comfort him with the image of her mother watching over them from heaven.
What is the title of Verdi's opera?
Under its final title, Rigoletto , the premiere was well received. Two years later Verdi insisted that the opera had “the best, the most effective subject I have so far set to music.”. Rigoletto is an acknowledged masterpiece that demonstrates Verdi’s complete grasp of his musical materials.
What is the quartet Bella Figlia dell' Amore?
The quartet “Bella figlia dell’ amore,” is a marvel of simultaneous characterization, beautifully integrated into the larger context. In fact, upon seeing Rigoletto in Paris, Victor Hugo himself wrote about the quartet: Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now.
What is the name of the opera that Giuseppe Verdi wrote in 1851?
Rigoletto, opera in three acts by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave) that premiered at La Fenice opera house in Venice on March 11, 1851. Based closely on the controversial 1832 play Le Roi s’amuse ( The King Amuses Himself; also performed in English as The King’s Fool) by Victor Hugo, Verdi’s opera was nearly kept off the stage by censors. With Rigoletto, Verdi reached a new level in his career; his next two operas, Il trovatore and La traviata, exhibit comparable artistry. Each of the three remains a staple of the operatic repertoire. The opera’s best-known aria is “La donna è mobile,” in which the womanizing Duke of Mantua muses upon the fickleness of women.
What does the Duke say to Rigoletto?
The merriment is interrupted by the sudden entrance of Count Monterone, who threatens the Duke. Rigoletto mocks him for complaining that the Duke has seduced his daughter.
Reviews
Analysis
- Rigoletto is the first of Verdis middle period operas and marks a shift towards coherent musical tapestries as opposed to the typical Italian aria format (though Verdi by no means leaves the form behind). There are fewer applause breaks than in his earlier works, the drama seemingly rushing headlong towards its conclusion.
Synopsis
- With a fantastic balance between the grand and the intimate, from plush palace to rundown inn, Rigoletto is an opera that has it all. A palace ball is in full flow. The Duke of Mantua sings of his lascivious life. Amongst his many potential future conquests he is eyeing up an unknown girl he caught sight of in church. Rigoletto mocks all and sundry, a court jester who does this job in a n…
Plot
- Rigoletto trudges home worried by the curse. He comes across Sparafucile, the local assassin (every town should have one!), skulking in the darkness. Sparafucile offers his services but Rigoletto rejects his offer saying he has no need of them. Rigoletto enters his home where he is greeted by his daughter, Gilda. She is the figure that the noblemen suspect to be his lover. Rigole…
Trivia
- As soon as Rigoletto leaves that man promptly appears and would you believe it... its the Duke! He bribes Giovanna into letting him in and in the ensuing love song lies to Gilda, telling her that he is a poor student.
Background
- Commissioned in April 1850 by La Fenice in Venice, Verdi set about finding a suitable subject for his new opera. He chose as his Librettist Francesco Marie Piave with whom he had worked on five previous operas and after a serious search, Verdi decided upon Victor Hugos Le Roi samuse, a subject that was always likely to cause problems with the censors (the play itself had a checker…
Soundtrack
- Verdi was sufficiently happy with the results that he set to work, writing the bulk of the score in 40 days. The premiere was a huge success and Rigoletto has never been far from the operatic stage since.
Results
- In the end the censorship didnt work. The printed text became wildly popular. By the time Verdi would come to write Rigoletto, Louis had been deposed and died though Hugo was in no better state having been exiled from France by Napoleon III.
Influences
- Though Rigoletto was originally based on French kings, Verdi was not without an historical model for dirty Mantuan Dukes. There are a few possible candidates almost all of whom belong to the Gonzaga family.
Powers and abilities
- Amongst his many skills were his abilities as a negotiator, a talent he was repeatedly forced to use with both Verdi and the various European censors. Verdi could be harsh with him, he gave him hell when the first version of Rigoletto was blocked, but they formed a strong bond over many years and after Piave suffered a stroke in 1867 Verdi supported his wife and daughter as well a…
Overview
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851.
Composition history
La Fenice of Venice commissioned Verdi in 1850 to compose a new opera. He was prominent enough by this time to enjoy some freedom in choosing texts to set to music. He initially asked Francesco Maria Piave (with whom he had already created Ernani, I due Foscari, Macbeth, Il corsaro and Stiffelio) to examine the play Kean by Alexandre Dumas, père, but soon came to believe that they needed to …
Performance history
Rigoletto premiered on 11 March 1851 in a sold-out La Fenice as the first part of a double bill with Giacomo Panizza's ballet Faust. Gaetano Mares conducted, and the sets were designed and executed by Giuseppe Bertoja and Francesco Bagnara. The opening night was a complete triumph, especially the scena drammatica and the Duke's cynical aria, "La donna è mobile", which was sung in the streets the next morning (Verdi had maximised the aria's impact by only revealing it to the …
Synopsis
Place: Mantua Time: the sixteenth century
Scene 1: Mantua. A magnificent hall in the ducal palace. Doors at the back open into other rooms, splendidly lit up. A crowd of lords and ladies in grand costumes are seen walking about in the rear rooms; page boys come and go. The festivities are at their height. Music is heard from offstage. The Duke and …
Instrumentation
The orchestra calls for 2 flutes (Flute 2 doubles piccolo), 2 oboes (Oboe 2 doubles English horn), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in Eb, D, C, Ab, G, and F, 2 trumpets in C, D, and Eb, 3 trombones, cimbasso, timpani, bass drum and cymbals, strings.
• Offstage: Banda, bass drum, 2 bells, thunder machine
• Onstage: Violins I and II, violas, and contrabasses
Music
The short orchestral preludio is based on the theme of the curse, intoned quietly on brass at first and building in intensity until it bursts into a passionate outcry by the full orchestra, subsiding once more and ending with repeated drum rolls alternating with brass, cumulatively increasing in volume to come to a somber conclusion. At curtain rise, great contrast is immediately felt as jolly dance mu…
Critical reception
Although immensely successful with audiences from the beginning, many critics in various countries condemned the work for its dark and bitterly tragic plot combined with a succession of mere popular tunes, as they thought of the music. After the first performance in Venice in 1851 the Gazzetta ufficiale di Venezia deplored the fact that in his opinion the libretto was inspired by "the Satanic school" and Verdi and Piave had sought beauty from the "deformed and repulsive".
Recordings and adaptations
There have been dozens of commercial recordings of Rigoletto. The earliest ones include the 1912 performance in French with François Ruhlmann conducting the orchestra and chorus of the Opéra Comique (Pathé) and the 1916 performance in Italian with Lorenzo Molajoli conducting the orchestra and chorus of La Scala (Columbia Records). The first LP edition of Rigoletto (also th…