Tears Of A Clown

A mainstay of the opera repertory, Verdi's Rigoletto is a thrilling, cinematic experience that first set pulses racing and tongues wagging when it first debuted in Venice in 1851. The gritty production overcame its initial problems with the censors of its day to become one of the world's most widely performed operas, beloved for its memorable tunes and electrifying revenge plot. The Los Angeles Opera, under the stage direction of Tomer Zvulun, re-sets the classic opera to take place during the fascist reign of Mussolini, heightening the stakes of the gripping tale. 

What Is The Story?

Irresistible melodies from arias like Caro Nome and La Donna e Mobile punctuate the ultimate tale of jealousy, vengeance, and sacrifice. It follows the misfortunes of its titular character, a clown in the court of the Duke of Mantua who's extremely skilled at humiliating courtiers, much to the amusement of the Duke. Yet, when his sharp tongue goes too far and the lustful Duke seduces his daughter Gilda, a spiral of devastation threatens to consume them all in a fiery and heart-stopping finale.