Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden

Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden

118 mins | Music | June 21, 2008

Both Florez and Diana Damrau brought their bel canto expertise and superb vocalism to the service of Verdi's music. The Rigoletto, Zeljko Lucic, ran the gamut from tenderness with his Gilda to thundering fury with everyone else. I also liked the production. At first, when Rigoletto was putting on his grease paint during the overture, I was afraid that it might be a typical "Euro-trash" production, with a bit of warmed over I Pagliacci. But the sets and dramatic action really served the music and libretto. I would have to say that I came to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the story and characters as a result of seeing this performance.

Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden

118 mins | Music | June 21, 2008

Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden
Both Florez and Diana Damrau brought their bel canto expertise and superb vocalism to the service of Verdi's music. The Rigoletto, Zeljko Lucic, ran the gamut from tenderness with his Gilda to thundering fury with everyone else. I also liked the production. At first, when Rigoletto was putting on his grease paint during the overture, I was afraid that it might be a typical "Euro-trash" production, with a bit of warmed over I Pagliacci. But the sets and dramatic action really served the music and libretto. I would have to say that I came to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the story and characters as a result of seeing this performance.
Producers Virgin
Original title Rigoletto
Directors Nikolaus Lehnhoff, Andreas Morell
Writers Francesco Maria Piave, Victor Hugo

Cast

Juan Diego Flórez

as Duke of Mantua

Željko Lučić

as Rigoletto

Diana Damrau

as Gilda

Georg Zeppenfeld

as Sparafucile

Christa Mayer

as Maddalena

Angela Liebold

as Giovanna

Markus Marquardt

as Monterone

Markus Butter

as Il Conte di Ceprano

Kyung-Hae Kang

as La Contessa di Ceprano

Fabio Luisi

as Conductor