FIVE REASONS TO MAKE RIGOLETTO YOUR FIRST OPERA

Believable Characters

Verdi’s dramatic tale of love and power is made even more compelling in the hands of director Femi Elufowoju jr. He has reinterpreted the action through the lens of a Black man living in Britain today. Rather than the jester Rigoletto having a physical disability as is traditionally the case, this version sees him struggling with the paranoia of being a Black man in a predominantly white world.

Audiences will also meet the Duke of Mantua – a womanising ne’er do well who cares little for the impact his behaviour has on whoever catches his eye. That includes Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter. Despite the opera being written 175 years ago, his character still feels all too familiar.

Common Themes

The themes in Rigoletto are exactly the same as in any good Netflix series: relationships, power games, misogyny, the love between a father and daughter, loyalty and revenge.

The difference with opera is that everyone in the auditorium gets to watch the story acted out in front of them live on stage, which makes everything seem much more immediate and visceral. In this production, the set is bright, bold and cinematic. The other bonus is that the action is accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack and unbelievable voices which carry all the way to the back of the auditorium without the need for microphones.

Memorable Music

Verdi really knew how to compose a tune and in Rigoletto he surpasses himself with his use of different musical styles to reflect each person’s personality and standing in society.

 Audiences may well recognise ‘La donna è mobile’ from a certain Doritos advert. Even if it is not familiar, the drama and power of the score played by the Orchestra of Opera add a whole extra dimension to the action taking place on stage. These were the top ten hits for the Italians in their day and are still earworms today. It is why Rigoletto continues to be one of the most performed operas worldwide – and why it should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list.

A Chilling Curse

A curse lies at the heart of Rigoletto and, in the hands of Elufowoju jr, it carries even more weight than usual, thanks to his experience of living in Nigeria: ‘From my cultural background, when you are cursed, you are genuinely cursed. I want this moment to resonate for the characters whose ethnicity has familiarity with the “curse phenomenon”. Rigoletto, Gilda, Monterone, Marullo and the Countess Ceprano are sung by people of colour. These characters are aware of the power and impact of the curse and their response is infectious.’

As the curse reverberates around the auditorium, everyone will be left in no doubt that things can never be the same again. It only remains to see how everything plays out.

Breaking down barriers

There is a perception that an evening at the opera costs an arm and a leg - and that it will be impossible to understand when it is sung in a foreign language. Neither is true as, thanks to the ticket schemes run by Opera North, discounted tickets are available for Under 30s, students and anyone who is new to opera, with other options starting at very affordable prices.

While Opera North’s production of Rigoletto is sung in the original Italian, English subtitles are displayed on either side of the stage making it very easy to keep up with the story.

Opera North performs Rigoletto at Lowry at 7pm on Thursday 12 and Saturday 14 November. Tickets are available online here with discounts available for first-timers and full-time students.