Study Guide
Study Guide Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Beginner's Guide to Opera
- Who's Who At the Opera
- The Lyric Opera House
- BOC Education Programs
- A Bibliography of Selected Readings
- Education Resources
2007-2008 SEASON
2006-2007 SEASON
2005-2006 SEASON
2004-2005 SEASON
2003-2004 SEASON
2002-2003 SEASON
PREVIOUS OPERAS
Rigoletto
Opera in three acts
Music - Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto - Francesco Maria Piave
Based on the play Le roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo
First performed on March 11, 1851, Venice, Italy
Production Underwritten by US Airways, the official Airline of the Baltimore Opera Company
Principal characters:
RIGOLETTO (Ree-goh-leht-toh) The court jester to the Duke of Mantua dramatic baritone
GILDA (Jeel-dah) The daughter of Rigoletto coloratura soprano.
IL DUCA DI MANTOVA (Eel Doo-kah Dee Mahn-toh-vah) The Duke of Mantua lyric tenor
SPARAFUCILE (Spah-ra-foo-chee-leh) A professional assassin bass
MADDALENA (Mah-dah-leh-nah) Sparafucile's sister, who also acts as an accomplice in his plot mezzo-soprano
MONTERONE (Mon-teh-roh-neh) A nobleman dramatic baritone
GIOVANNA (Joh-vahn-nah) Gilda's nurse and confidante contralto
BORSA (Bohr-sah) A courtier tenor
MARULLO (Mah-ruhl-loh) A courtier baritone
CONTESSA CEPRANO (Kon-teh-sah Cheh-prah-noh) A noblewoman soprano
CONTE CEPRANO (Kon-teh Che-prah-noh) A nobleman, husband of the Countess bass
Rigoletto (Ree-goh-leht-toh) takes place in the Italian City of Mantua, in the sixteenth century.