Rigoletto

Rigoletto, Giuseppe Verdi’s bleak masterpiece is back on stage at the Greek National Opera, only for 5 shows at the Olympia Theatre, from 12 until 23 March 2016. The production is conducted and directed by Elias Voudouris and Nikos S. Petropoulos respectively, whereas the latter is also responsible for the sets and costumes. The leading and particularly demanding role is held by the eminent Greek baritone of the Greek National Opera, Dimitri Platanias, who is making his mark in the world’s major opera theatres.

In Rigoletto Verdi turns a new page as composer and presents a work of distinct character and an increasing disposition for experimentation. On the following day of Rigoletto’s world premiere on 12 March 1851, the Italian critic Tomaso Locatelli writes in enthusiasm: “A novelty in music, style, form. Superb arrangement: this orchestra speaks, sheds tears, moves”. In Rigoletto, contrasts are a fundamental element, while the alternation between lyrical and dramatic scenes ensures the constant unravelling of the plot at a great speed. After all, Rigoletto’s contradictory and dark personality is the key element that inspired and prompted Verdi to compose this opera.

The Greek National Opera presents only for 5 shows the successful production, whose direction, sets and costumes bear the signature of Nikos S. Petropoulos. The production was a smash hit when was initially staged during the period 2008-2009. Petropoulos has transferred the action from 16th-century Mantua to Mussolini’s Italy, just before the outbreak of World War II. The supercilious milieu of the libertine Duke of Mantua is transplanted into this period of conspiracy and arrogance. Verdi’s intensely dramatic music matches well with an atmosphere in which everyone and everything moves in the shadows.

In total, Rigoletto is presented in 37 out of the 76 artistic periods of the history of the Greek National Opera and in this year’s last season is back on the stage of Olympia Theatre; a season dedicated to the theatre’s grand history.

Nikos S. Petropoulos notes: “Milan, March 1938. Italy, an empire by now, since 1936. It is the heyday of Fascist glory. A state just before the beginning of its collapse and destruction: debauchery, arrogance of power, arbitariness, scheming in-groups, conspiracies, pompousness; the ideal framework for an honest chronological transferring of Rigoletto and its transformation into a film noir. There it is the overpowering force of this work.”

The plot is about the romantic love of Gilda, daughter of Rigoletto, the hunchback jester of the court, for the Duke of Mantua, who appears to her as a poor student. Rigoletto, wishing to avenge his daughter’s lost honour, plans the assassination of the Duke. Gilda, discovering her father’s scheme, decides to save her beloved and sacrifice herself by taking his place.

The eponymous title character is incarnated by the prominent Greek baritone, Dimitri Platanias, who made his debut with this role back in 2008/9 on the stage of the GNO and since then has successfully played it in major opera theatres, such as the Royal Opera and the Barbican of London, Fenice of Venice, Teatro Massimo of Palermo, La Monnaie of Brussels, Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, et. al. Major British newspapers wrote rave reviews for the performance of Dimitri Platanias, who “offers an awe-inspiring baritone in the title role… is vocally tireless up to his final cry of despair", George Hall writes in the Guardian, whereas Rupert Christiansen comments in The Telegraph that “Dimitri Platanias’s… a big bruiser of a baritone with a terrific instrument, he sang with blazing power that earned him an enthusiastic ovation”.

The role of the Duke of Mantua is played by GNO’s distinguished tenors Yannis Chistopoulos and Antonis (Anthony) Koronaios; Gilda by the renowned Greek sopranos Vassiliki Karagianni and Maria Mitsopoulou. The role of Sparafucile is entrusted to the bass Petros Magoulas and the role of Maddalena to Marissia Papalexiou and Eleni Voudouraki. Numerous Greek soloists of the GNO participate in the play.

The Orchestra of the GNO is conducted by Elias Voudouris, the GNO Chorus by Agathangelos Georgakatos, Ion Kessoulis is the revival director, Despoina Tsoukala is responsible for movement and choreography, Giuseppe di Iorio for the lighting design and Dimitris Koutas for the lights.

With the Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists of the GNO

Ticket prices: €15, €25, €30, €40, €50, €55 - Students, children: €10 – Limited visibility: €10, €15, €17, €25

150 special price, 5 euro tickets will be available for the evening show of Wednesday, March 16th

Rigoletto at a glance

ΤHE COMPOSER / Giuseppe Verdi, the most renowned composer of Italian Romanticism, was born in Le Roncole in northern Italy, 1813 and died in Milan, 1901. He studied music in the small town of Busseto and then in Milan. His earliest works were influenced by the revolutionary spirit of the times, echoing the struggle of the many small Italian states to be liberated from the Austrians and unified into one sovereign state. Verdi’s involvement with politics elevated the composer to the status of a national symbol –as an acrostic Viva Verdi meant Viva Vittorio Emanuele Re D’Italia– and in 1861 he was elected a member of the first Italian Parliament. Verdi’s most significant operas are Nabucco (1842), Rigoletto (1851), Il trovatore (1853), La traviata (1853), La forza del destino (1862), Aida (1871), Otello (1887) and Falstaff (1893).
On an aesthetic level Verdi’s music expressed the spirit of mature Romanticism, and on a political one his compatriots’ desire to see Italy free and united. He was adored by an especially broad public and enjoyed popularity that remains unfaltering to this day. In the midst of the historical, political and social changes taking place in the 19th century, Verdi was the composer who experienced that special moment in the history of music where high art became a popular art too.

THE OPERA / Rigoletto, a melodramma in three acts, was inspired by Victor Hugo’s (1802-1885) play Le roi s’amuse (1832). The libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave (1810-1876). The story recounts the romance between Gilda, daughter of the hunchback court jester Rigoletto, and the carefree Duke of Mantua, who presents himself to the young woman in the guise of a poor student. When Rigoletto discovers that the Duke has dishonoured his daughter, he orchestrates his assassination. Gilda becomes aware of her father’s plans, and decides to sacrifice herself to save the Duke’s life. In this Greek National Opera production the action is transferred to 1938 Italy.

PREMIERES / Rigoletto received its premiere at the Gran Teatro La Fenice, Venice, on 11 March 1851. In Greece, the first performance of the opera took place in 1852 on Corfu, a British protectorate at the time. On 28 October 1853 the opera was performed in Athens in Itali an. The Greek National Opera, founded in 1939, added Rigoletto to its repertory in January 1948, in a production conducted by Leonidas Zoras and directed by Constantinos Persis. The cast included Evangelos Magliveras in the title role, Antonis Delendas as the Duke and Francesca Nikita as Gilda.