28th September

Concert will begin at 17:00 hours GMT

Verdi's 'Rigoletto' with Burdenko, Barbera, Khismatullina, Gour and Köpeczi from Amsterdam

Verdi's 'Rigoletto' is an opera in three acts. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. Its tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto and Rigoletto's beautiful daughter Gilda. The opera's original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to the curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter had been seduced by the Duke with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda likewise falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassins hired by her father.

Performers: René Barbera: Il Duca di Mantova. Roman Burdenko: Rigoletto. Aigul Khismatullina: Gilda. Alexander Köpeczi: Sparafucile. Maya Gour: Maddalena. Eva Kroon: Giovanna. Frederik Bergman: Il Conte di Monterone. Martin Mkhize: Marullo. Salvador Villanueva: Borsa. Joe Chalmers: Il Conte di Ceprano. Martina Myskohlid: La Contessa di Ceprano. Daria Brusova: Paggio della Duchessa. Peter Arink: Usciere di corte.

Dutch National Opera Choir. Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Antonino Fogliani.

Recorded 20 September.