Rigoletto

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts composed by Giuseppe Verdi with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Victor Hugo's 1832 play Le roi s'amuse. The work premiered at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851 and became an immediate success, known for its memorable melodies including the famous aria 'La donna è mobile'. The opera tells a dramatic story centred on Rigoletto, a court jester, exploring themes of loyalty, devotion, lust, and revenge against a backdrop of royalty and intrigue. Elijah Moshinsky's celebrated production features glamorous La Dolce Vita-inspired sets and costumes, including a distinctive Fiat 500 prop, with a revolving dolls-house style set that provides cinematic detail to each scene. The opera is performed in Italian with surtitles available in English and Simplified Chinese, with a running time of approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including one interval.