Who's who and The story of Verdi's "Rigoletto"

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Cast: Baritone Kim Josephson sings the title role on opening night, alternating with Stephen Kechulius (who sings Fridays and Sundays). Gilda will be sung by French-American soprano Norah Amsellem, in her Seattle Opera debut (alternating with soprano Sandra López). American tenor Frank Lopardo sings the Duke of Mantua on opening night, alternating with Mexican tenor Raúl Hernández (both in their Seattle debuts).

Sets are by Robert Dahlstrom, who has adapted his original 1988 designs to the period of this production (Mussolini's Italy), selected by stage director Linda Brovsky, who has directed seven previous Seattle Opera productions. The conductor is Edoardo Müller, a Seattle favorite since his debut here in 1991.

For tickets, call 206-389-7676, or visit www.seattleopera.org.

The story of Verdi's "Rigoletto"

The opera takes place in the dissolute court of the Duke of Mantua, where the jester Rigoletto makes fun of Count Monterone and others whose wives and daughters have been dishonored by the Duke. Rigoletto is terrified, however, when he is cursed by the Count.

Back at his own house, Rigoletto keeps his beautiful daughter Gilda concealed and cloistered, but she has met a handsome young man she thinks is a student. He is really the Duke himself. Courtiers abduct Gilda, believing her to be Rigoletto's mistress, and deliver her to the Duke's palace. Rigoletto swears vengeance on the Duke for seducing his daughter.

Lured to a remote inn by Maddalena, the sister of a professional assassin whom Rigoletto has hired to kill the Duke, the Duke is engaged in debauchery when Rigoletto secretly brings Gilda to a window to show her he is not worthy of her love.

Later that evening, Maddalena asks her brother to spare the Duke; he says he will kill in the Duke's stead anyone who shows up at the inn that night. Overhearing him, Gilda disguises herself and enters the inn, sacrificing herself to save the Count. She is stabbed and stuffed into a sack.

Rigoletto arrives, and believing the body in the sack is the Count's, is about to throw the sack into the river when he hears the Duke merrily singing in the inn. Horrified, he opens the sack to discover his dying daughter — and the power of the curse.

Melinda Bargreen, Seattle Times music critic

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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