Organization

Conductor

Renato Palumbo

Stage director

Elijah Moshinsky

Shane Placentino

Set designer

Michael Yeargan

Costume designer

Lighting designer

Robert Bryan

Singer

Baritone

Ernesto Petti

Rigoletto

Tenor

Atalla Ayan

The Duke of Mantua

David Parkin

The Count of Monterone

Bass

Roberto Scandiuzzi

Sparafucile

Contralto

Sian Sharp

Maddalena

Luke Gabbedy

Marullo

Virgilio Marino

Matteo Borsa

Anthony Mackey

The Count of Ceprano

Mezzo-soprano

Giovanna

Ruth Strutt

The Countess of Ceprano

Jennifer Bonner

A page

Nathan Lay

A court usher

Opera Australia

Others

Opera Australia Chorus

Orchestra

Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra

Soprano

Stacey Alleaume

Gilda

Benjamin Rasheed

Diego Torre

Italian

Sydney City

Australia

Sydney Opera House

Joan Sutherland Theatre

Rigoletto Verdi

Public

English

Approved

Rigoletto Giuseppe Verdi

He’s hideous. He’s hated. He’s untouchable. But in this shimmering world of secrets and seduction, can he keep the one he loves most safe?

At the Duke’s infamous parties, one man’s words light the darkness with a sinister glitter. Among the glamorous girls and greasy gangsters, Rigoletto serves his master with sharp wits and averted eyes.

From the moment he wrote it, Verdi knew he had a hit on his hands. The story has everything: royalty, loyalty, devotion, lust and revenge.

And the music? The music is sensational, so full of hummable tunes that Verdi demanded complete secrecy from his premiere cast. The tenor was forbidden from even whistling the catchy ‘La donna è mobile’ outside of rehearsals.

The morning after Rigoletto’s triumphant première, that melody rang out in the streets: a hit for ever after. The title character Verdi called the “greatest creation” in the history of theatre had found a home in a masterpiece of music.

Elijah Moshinsky’s much-loved production of Rigoletto returns to the Sydney Opera House stage, complete with its glamorous La Dolce Vita-inspired sets and costumes and scene-stealing Fiat 500.

The revolving dolls-house style set gives a cinematic detail to each scene. We’ve assembled a brilliant cast led by Verdi master Renato Palumbo. Ernesto Petti is the tortured jester at the heart of Verdi’s masterpiece.


Cast & Creative
Conductor
Renato Palumbo
Director
Elijah Moshinsky
Revival Director
Shane Placentino
Assistant Director
Warwick Doddrell
Set & Costume Designer
Michael Yeargan
Lighting Designer
Robert Bryan
Rigoletto
Ernesto Petti
Duke of Mantua
Atalla Ayan (13 June)
Virgilio Marino (15, 17, 24, 26 June)
Diego Torre (20 & 22 June)
Gilda
Stacey Alleaume
Monterone
David Parkin
Sparafucile
Roberto Scandiuzzi
Maddalena
Sian Sharp
Marullo
Luke Gabbedy
Borsa
Virgilio Marino
Benjamin Rasheed (15–26 June)
Ceprano
Anthony Mackey
Giovanna
Sian Sharp
Countess Ceprano
Ruth Strutt
Page
Jennifer Bonner
Usher
Nathan Lay

Opera Australia Chorus
Opera Australia Orchestra

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble