http://http://youtu.be/pMKNfEsDPC8

Venue: Metropolitan Opera, Manhattan NY, NY

Composer: Giuseppi Verdi

Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave

Current Producer: Michael Mayer

Additional Notes: While the original Rigletto takes place in the 1500’s, the current production directed by Michael Mayer takes place during 1960’s Las Vegas.

Rigoletto

Giuseppe Verdi wrote Rigoletto towards the end of his career. Already famous at the time Verdi wanted to perform an opera that was new and different from his others. The original idea Verdi had was to do Triboulet but was shut down by higher people in Venice. Verdi then changed the names if the characters around to become Rigoletto.

When composing Rigoletto “In the adagio Verdi particularly wanted the second verse ‘more beautiful’ then the first- acknowledging his own penchant for increasing the movements as it proceeds.” (Budden 1973)

After the play was performed for the first time it was an immediate success with the people but not with the music critics of the time. That did not discourage Verdi. Verdi described the piece as “revolutionary.” The music and style was different from much of the music and operas of the time. “The elements in themselves mostly traditional, but they are fused together in a new exciting way.”(Budden 1973)