Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden
Rigoletto (2008) Staatsoper Dresden. Verdi / Italian
Overview
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
