The Classical Music Minute

Rigoletto in 60 Seconds

June 13, 2022 Steven Hobé, Composer & Host Season 1 Episode 60
The Classical Music Minute
Rigoletto in 60 Seconds
Show Notes Transcript

Description
Need a quick refresher on the plot of Verdi’s Rigoletto? Take a minute to get the scoop!

Fun Fact
Rigoletto premiered on 11 March 1851 in a sold-out La Fenice as the first part of a double bill with Giacomo Panizza's ballet Faust. The opening night was a complete triumph, especially the scena drammatica and the Duke's cynical aria, "La donna è mobile", which was sung in the streets the next morning. It initially had a run of 13 performances and was revived in Venice the following year, and again in 1854.

About Steven
Steven is a Canadian composer living in Toronto. He creates a range of works, with an emphasis on the short-form genre—his muse being to offer the listener both the darker and more satiric shades of human existence. If you're interested, please check out his website for more. Member of the Canadian League Of Composers.

A Note To Music Students et al.
All recordings and sheet music are available on my site. I encourage you to take a look and play through some. Give me a shout if you have any questions.

Got a topic? Pop me off an email at: TCMMPodcast@Gmail.com 

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The first act of Rigoletto opens with a party at the court of the Duke of Mantua, a powerful man who uses this to seduce women. When Rigoletto jokes at the expense of Count Monterone, whose daughter has been seduced by the Duke, Monterone calls down a curse upon Rigoletto. 

Later, we learn that Rigoletto's innocent daughter Gilda (pronounced 'JEEL-dah') has also been seduced, and has fallen in love with the Duke. Ooops!

In Act Two Rigoletto learns of their tryst and becomes obsessed with vengeance. Oh…and some other stuff goes on as well.

In Act Three, Rigoletto hires a hitman, Sparfucile, to murder the Duke. He also sends Gilda off to Verona disguised as a boy. Of course!

Meanwhile, the Duke is lured to an isolated inn. Sparfucile’s sister, who has a crush on the Duke begs for his life. Her brother agrees to kill the next stranger who comes along instead. Gilda returns, still dressed as a male, and decides to sacrifice herself. She enters the inn and is stabbed.

Rigoletto comes to claim the body, thinking it’s the Duke. But then hears his supposed victim singing in the distance. Frantically tearing open the sack, he finds his daughter, who dies asking forgiveness. Horrified, Rigoletto remembers Monterone’s curse.