Opera
Rigoletto | Scottish Opera
Empire Theatre
by Guiseppe Verdi
Director Matthew Richardson brings Verdi’s Rigoletto to the stage in a stylish, intelligent and theatrical production.
Based on a play by Victor Hugo, Verdi’s opera tells a tragic tale. Rigoletto, a hunch-back jester at the court of the Duke of Mantua, is forced to find new conquests for his carefree, womanizing master. As the web of court intrigue tightens around him, Rigoletto finds himself the victim of a grave curse, but it is his carefully protected daughter Gilda who is the one to suffer.
From the aching naivety of Gilda’s first love to the Duke’s untroubled revelry and Rigoletto’s tortured realisation of his failure as a father, Verdi takes the characters from elation to despair in an opera densely packed with extraordinary music.
English baritone Eddie Wade sings Rigoletto in his debut in the role, and Edgaras Montvidas, Nemorino in our recent production of The Elixir of Love, sings the role of the Duke. Scottish Opera Emerging Artist Nadine Livingston brings a fresh innocence to the role of Gilda. Tobias Ringborg, well known to Scottish Opera audiences from 2009’s Cosi fan tutte, conducts.
UK PREMIERE
Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Running time approximately 2 hrs 40 mins
All performances have been completed
Seat prices:
£46.00 / £36.00 / £30.00 / £20.00 & ConcessionsAdditional information
Access Information
- Touch Tours:
- There will be a Touch-Tour on Sat 11 June at 18.15
- Audio Description:
- The performance on Sat 11 June at 19.15 will be Audio-Described
New to opera?
Try Rigoletto Unwrapped – a FREE hour-long taster introducing the characters, plot and some key scenes from the opera, as well as letting you in on some of the theatrical secrets behind the show. Featuring The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, singers and back-stage crew.
THE CAST
Rigoletto
Eddie Wade
Gilda
Nadine Livingston (Scottish Opera's 2010 / 2011 Emerging Artist)
Duke of Mantua
Edgaras Montvidas
Maddalena
Louise Collett
Conductor
Tobias Ringborg
Director
Matthew Richardson
Designer
Jon Morrell
Lighting
Tony Rabbit