Composed during his middle period, Rigoletto is the first opera of Verdi's popular trilogy which comprises also Il Trovatore and La Traviata. The opera owes most of its popularity to the way the modesty and delicacy of the music engulfs the listeners' emotions through ineffably beautiful duets and a prodigality of melodic invention, exalting Verdi's sublime search for human truth through a colourful palette hidden behind the mask of Rigoletto, the Mantuan jester.
The loving and protective fatherly figure that is hidden behind the court jester's costume, is terrified by a curse put on him by Monterone as the latter is being led to prison after denouncing the Duke for having seduced his daughter. Rigoletto is also secretly protecting his daughter Gilda from the dangers presented by those surrounding her. Gilda is eventually also seduced by the Duke of Mantua, as she is taken to his bedroom. Feeling dishonoured when noticing the duke getting his share of other women as well, Rigoletto gets his revenge by hiring the professional assassin Sparafucile, to kill the Duke in the middle of the night. Gilda however, smitten to the end by the Duke, secretly slips into his place and falls victim to the assassin's stabbing, with the shattered Rigoletto finding Gilda's body, thus fulfilling the final piece of Monterone's curse.
The brand-new production of Rigoletto will be staged at Teatru Astra under the artistic direction of Enrico Stinchelli, with the participation of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Teatru Astra's opera conductor, Mro Dr John Galea, on the 26th and 28th October 2023.