Rigoletto

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
Opera in Four Acts

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. Sung in English.

23-31 August
Hannah Playhouse
Wellington

After their critically acclaimed productions of Madam Butterfly, Orfeo, Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, Eternity Opera is returning in August with Verdi’s 1851 dramatic masterpiece Rigoletto.

Rigoletto, a disfigured court jester seeks vengeance for his own humiliation, and for his daughter who has fallen victim to the Duke of Mantua. Rigoletto is out for revenge. But he definitely won’t have the last laugh.

A tragic story of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice, Rigoletto is one of Verdi’s most popular operas. It features some of opera’s most immediately famous music, including “La donna è mobile”, “Questa o quella” and “Caro nome”.

Outstanding Australian baritone James Clayton will return to New Zealand to play Rigoletto, joining tenor Boyd Owen as the Duke and soprano Hannah Catrin Jones as Gilda, who are both returning to Eternity Opera after their stunning portrayals in last year’s Madam Butterfly.

Performed in English this will again be directed by Alex Galvin and conducted by Matthew Ross, with support from the Eternity Chamber Orchestra.

Director… Alex Galvin
Music Director… Matthew Ross
Producers… Emma Beale & Minto Fung
Costume Designer… Sally Gray
Lighting Designer… Haami Hawkins
Assistant Director… Laura Loach
Production Manager… Joel Rudolph

Rigoletto… James Clayton
Gilda… Hannah Catrin Jones
The Duke… Boyd Owen
Sparafucile… Robert Lindsay
Monterone… Roger Wilson
Maddalena… Jess Segal
Giovanna… Ruth Armishaw
Count Ceprano… Minto Fung
Countess Ceprano… Karyn Andreassend
Matteo Borsa… Chris Berentson
Count Marullo… Orene Tiai
Court Usher… Olivia Sheat
A Page… Alexandra Woodhouse-Appleby
Gang Members… Chris Anderson, Paul Bothwell, Nikita Crosby, Richard Dean, Jessica Mercer-Short and Garth Norman