Rigoletto

The Duke enters the house in disguise telling Gilda that he is a poor student and declaring his love for her. Some courtiers appear and entice Rigoletto into a ruse of abducting Count Ceprano's wife. Blindfolded he realises too late that he has abducted his own daughter.

Rigoletto confronts Gilda when she confesses her love for the Duke. Rigoletto swears vengeance. Later, at an inn, Rigoletto brings Gilda wo witness her lover's infidelity. The Duke appears, asking for wine and a woman (Maddalena). Rigoletto pays assassin Sparafucile for the Duke's murder and says he will return with a sack for the body. Maddalena has fallen for the Duke and persuades Sparafucile to kill someone else. He agrees and Gilda, overhearing their conversation, decides to sacrifice herself. Upon his return, Rigoletto hears the Duke's voice and realises he is not dead. Rigoletto opens the sack to find his own daughter and tragically recalls Monterone's curse as the curtain falls.

Elijah Moshinsky's superb staging bristles with suspense in this Fellini-esque presentation that has become one of Australia's most popular and widely praised productions of recent decades. Verdi's great score includes some of this most famous music.