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RIGOLETTO

Opera in three acts
G. Verdi
Libretto by F. Piave based on the drama “Le roi s’amuse” by V. Hugo
Characters:
Duke of Mantua
Rigoletto, the Duke’s jester
Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter
Sparafucile, a bandit
Maddalena, his sister
Giovanna, Gilda’s maid
Count Monterone
Chevalier Marullo
Matteo Borsa, a courtier
Count Ceprano
Countess Ceprano, his wife
A Court Usher
A Page
I action II action III action

A ball in the palace of Duke of Mantua. Amidst the merriment, the court jester Rigoletto provokes the count to steal count Ceprano’s wife. Enraged by yet another trick, the courtiers decide to teach the jester a lesson, and they suggest to the Duke to steal Rigoletto’s lover, who he supposedly hides at his home. Count Monterone’s sudden appearance attracts their attention: the old man demands that his daughter, who fell victim to the Duke’s escapades, is returned to him. But the Duke orders that the poor father is seized. The jester’s mockery is the last drop – Monterone curses Rigoletto.

Rigoletto returns home. He meets an assassin on his way home, and remembers his name just in case. Finally, he is home. He lives with his daughter Gilda and her maid Giovanna. Knowing the Duke’s manners, he carefully hides her from the public, and she is even afraid to tell him that she has taken a fancy to a young man. The young man is the Duke. Posing as a simple student, he passionately proclaims his love for her, but hearing a noise outside, he is forced to leave. Count Ceprano and his friends appear near Rigoletto’s house. They intend to steal the jester’s mysterious beauty, but the jester suddenly returns. To dispel his suspicions, the courtiers convince the jester that they are preparing a kidnapping of Count Ceprano’s wife, who’s castle is situated nearby. Rigoletto agrees to take part in the escapade, and he is blindfolded… But when everyone disappears, he is horrified to learn the truth.

The Duke is concerned: the girl he is enamoured of has been abducted. Trying to amuse him his courtiers tell him how they stole the jester’s mistress, and guessing who she is, the Duke hurries off to see the prisoner. A broken-hearted Rigoletto appears at the palace, he begs for his daughter’s return. When a tear-stricken Gilda comes running from the Duke’s bedroom, Rigoletto swears to wreak vengeance upon the Duke. Nighttime. The disguised Duke comes to the assassin Sparafucile’s hideout to meet with his sister, Maddalena. Rigoletto brings his daughter to the same place, to demonstrate the Duke’s unfaithfulness. Gilda is in despair: her father is sending her away to Verona; she is to leave Mantua on the same night, in the guise of a man.
Rigoletto hires the assassin to murder the Duke. He wants to enjoy the revenge by throwing the Duke’s body into the river with his own hands. Maddalena begs her brother to spare the man, and instead, he agrees to kill the first person that enters the hut. Gilda. Already dressed as a man, and returned to have a last look at the Duke, she overhears the conversation and decides her sacrifice her life to save him… Triumphing his vengeance, Rigoletto takes the wrapped body from Sparafucile, when he hears the Duke’s familiar song. Opening the bundle he sees his dying daughter. Rigoletto goes mad from grief.