RIGOLETTO by Giuseppe Verdi – CONCERT VERSION

Tickets on sale on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025

Teatro Lirico D’Europa with Connecticut Virtuosi Orchestra presents:
RIGOLETTO – An opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play Le roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo.

The tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda. The opera’s original title, La Maledizion (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by the Count Monterone, whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto’s encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.

Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theaters at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. The work, Verdi’s sixteenth in the genre, is widely considered to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi’s middle-to-late career.

This is a CONCERT VERSION Italian production with English supertitles.

CAST:

Baritone:             Michael Nansel – RIGOLETTO
Tenor:                  Victor Starsky – DUKE
Soprano:             Hanna Brammer – GILDA
Basso:                 Steven Fredericks – SPARAFUCILE
Mezzo Soprano: Rebecca De Almeida – MADDALENA
Bass Baritone:   Vladimir Hristov – MONTERONE
Bass Baritone:   Nathan Strock –  MARULLO

Maestro:              Adrian Sylveen – Conductor

Chorus Master:  Rider Foster
Stage Director:   Giorgio Lalov –  Sets, costumes, and lights

Michael Nansel – RIGOLETTO: Michael Nansel is an award-winning singer and actor. Best known as an opera singer, he is also an accomplished recitalist and concert artist and appears frequently in musical theater classics. Between Opera and Musicals, Mr. Nansel has over 80-roles to his credit. He sings music from the Mozart to Sondheim, from Verdi to Rodger & Hammerstein. He was the Wichita Grand Opera Singer of the Year in 2012 and was the dual winner in 2003 of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors for continued

Victor Starsky – DUKE OF MANTUA: A native of Richmond Hill, New York. Starsky received critical acclaim this year for his performances as Don José in Sarasota Opera’s production of Bizet’s CARMEN. He also made his role debuts with New York City Opera as Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s TOSCA and Maurizio in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s production of Cilea’s ADRIANA LECOUVREUR. Starsky made his debut as Nemorino with Charlottesville Opera in their production of Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE. Starsky performed the role of Jim Casy continued

Hanna Brammer – GILDA: Praised by Opera News as “Magnificent” for her portrayal of Pamina, and gain in her role debut as Juliette, with Sarasota Opera: “Brammer has a lovely, bright sound and enviable flexibility, with coloratura that flows like glistening water.” – Edward Alley. Hanna made her professional debut in 2014, as Rose Maurrant in Opera North’s production of STREET SCENE, by Kurt Weill. Since thenHanna has gone on to sing leading roles with Opera Columbus, Nashville Opera, Mississippi Opera, Opera Memphis, Festival Amadeus, continued