Rigoletto

Title: Rigoletto
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Premiere: 1851, Italian
Setting: 16th-century Mantua, Italy
Main Characters:

• Rigoletto (a hunchbacked court jester)

• The Duke of Mantua (a womanizing nobleman)

• Gilda (Rigoletto’s daughter)

• Sparafucile (a hired assassin)

Plot Summary:
Rigoletto, a bitter court jester, mocks the victims of his master, the Duke of Mantua, unaware that his own daughter, Gilda, has fallen for the Duke’s charms. When Rigoletto learns of their affair, he hires an assassin, Sparafucile, to kill the Duke. However, Gilda, still in love, sacrifices herself to save the Duke’s life. Rigoletto discovers too late that his revenge has resulted in his daughter’s tragic death.

Key Themes & Significance:
A powerful tale of vengeance, love, and fate, Rigoletto showcases Verdi’s masterful ability to blend drama with music. The Duke’s aria “La donna è mobile” is one of opera’s most recognizable melodies, and the opera remains a staple in the repertoire.