Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden (2008)

Director: Nikolaus Lehnhoff

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.

Cast

Juan Diego Flórez

Duke of Mantua

Željko Lučić

Rigoletto

Diana Damrau

Gilda

Georg Zeppenfeld

Sparafucile

Christa Mayer

Maddalena

Angela Liebold

Giovanna

Markus Marquardt

Monterone

Markus Butter

Il Conte di Ceprano

Kyung-Hae Kang

La Contessa di Ceprano

Fabio Luisi

Conductor