Organization

Conductor

Matthew Rupcich

Stage director

Carol Castel

Singer

Tenor

Tshombe Selby

The Duke of Mantua

Baritone

Mark Cotton

Rigoletto

Soprano

Kelsey Watts

Gilda

Bass

Gennadiy Visotskiy

Sparafucile

Contralto

Annie Chester

Maddalena

Mezzo-soprano

Jenna Stewart

Giovanna

Jonathan Stinson

The Count of Monterone

Robert Flora

Marullo

Carson Cooke

Matteo Borsa

Erik Tofte

The Count of Ceprano

The Countess of Ceprano

Delaware Valley Opera

English

Huntington

United States

Delaware Valley Opera Center

Public

Approved

Never underestimate the power of a heartbroken father’s curse!
 
          Rigoletto, the Court Jester of the Duke of Mantua, makes a living out of humiliating the Members of the Court. Protected by the ruthless Count, no personal tragedy is too painful or humiliating to serve as fodder for Rigoletto’s cruel merriment.

          When the Duke of Mantua, aided by Rigoletto, seduces the daughter of the stately and dignified Count Monterone, the elderly gentleman places a curse…“La Maledizone”…upon both the Duke and Rigoletto, which is brushed aside as the mere heartbroken rantings of a grieving father.

          But…Rigoletto has a secret: his own beautiful, innocent, convent-raised daughter, Gilda, whom he keeps protected behind high walls, secluded from the world and its evil influences. The Count’s curse sets forth a cataclysmic chain of events that forms the story line of one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most famous operas, with well-known, sumptuous arias, duets, trios and quartets that are among the most beautiful of the operatic literature.

          Delaware Valley Opera proudly presents a stellar cast, headed by tenor Tshombe Selby (Chicago’s Lyric Opera, Metropolitan Opera Chorus) as the Duke of Mantua and baritone Mark Cotton (Opera West in Santa Fe, Opera Classica Europa, Miami Lyric Opera) as Rigoletto. The lovely Gilda is played by Kelsey Watts (Binghamton University Symphony Orchestra, Binghamton Philharmonic, Tri-Cities Opera) and the stately Count Monterone is played by Jonathan Stinson (Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Cincinnati Opera, as well as engagements overseas in the U.K. and Bulgaria), who just thrilled DVO audiences as The Pirate King in June’s production of The Pirates of Penzance. Carol Castel, Artistic Director of DVO, is Stage Director, with Music Direction by Matthew Rupcich.

          The production will be performed in English in order to fully enhance understanding of this absorbing and fascinating story. Rigoletto is a not-to-be-missed production that will be staged at DVO’s beautiful, spacious new theater in Lake Huntington. Mark your calendars for Saturdays, July 16th and 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays, July 17th and 24th, at 2:00 p.m. For further information and tickets, visit DVO’s website: www.delawarevalleyopera.com or call 845-887-3083.

         Step into a world of intrigue, betrayal, and the ultimate karma with the Delaware Valley Opera, and come see Rigoletto!

Rigoletto by Verdi, From (2022/2022), Directed by Carol Castel,, Conductor Matthew Rupcich, Delaware Valley Opera Center, Huntington, United States

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Program, About & Synopsis

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues