Rigoletto - Semperoper Dresden

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.

• Nikolaus LehnhoffDirector
• Giuseppe VerdiOriginal Music Composer
• Andreas MorellDirector
• Francesco Maria PiaveWriter

• Juan Diego FlórezDuke of Mantua
• Željko LučićRigoletto
• Diana DamrauGilda
• Georg ZeppenfeldSparafucile
• Christa MayerMaddalena
• Angela LieboldGiovanna
• Markus MarquardtMonterone
• Markus ButterIl Conte di Ceprano
• Kyung-Hae KangLa Contessa di Ceprano
• Fabio LuisiConductor