The Duke describes to his friends his newest love, who, unknown to the court, is the daughter of the court jester, Rigoletto. Count Monterone enters and denounces the duke for seducing his daughter and pronounces a father's curse on Rigoletto and the Duke.

At home, Rigoletto keeps his daughter Gilda under lock and key telling her she means everything to him.

The Duke enters the house in disguise telling Gilda that he is a poor student and declaring his love for her. Some courtiers appear and entice Rigoletto into a ruse of abducting Count Ceprano's wife. Blindfolded he realises too late that he has abducted his own daughter.

Rigoletto confront Gilda when she confesses her love for the Duke. Rigoletto swears vengeance. Later, at an inn, Rigoletto brings Gilda to witness her lover's infidelity. The Duke appears, asking for wind and a woman. (Maddalena). Rigoletto pays the assassin Sparafucile for the Dukes's murder and says he will return with a sack for the body. Maddalena has fallen for the Duke and persuades Sparafucile to kill someone else. He agress and Gilda, overhearing their conversation decides to sacrafice herself. Upon his return, Rigoletto hears the Duke's voice and realises he is not dead. Rigoletto opens the sack to find his own daughter and tragically recalls Monterone's curse as the curtain falls.

Elijah Moshinsky's superb staging bristles with suspense in this Fellini-esque presntation that has become one of Australia's most popular and widely praised productions of recent decades. Verdi's great score includes some of his most famous music.

RIGOLETTO

8.11.13.15 November 7:30 - Festival Theatre

Running Time: Approximately three hours and fifteen minutes including two twenty-minute intervals

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