The premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto will take place at the Latvian national opera on September 18. The music director and conductor of the new production is Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, Conductor – Normunds Vaicis, Stage Director – Margo Zālīte, Set Designer - Aída-Leonor Guardia , Costume Designer Liene Dobrāja, Light Designer Stefan Bolliger. Cast of the Rigoletto producion includes Samsons Izjumovs or Armands Siliņš, Olga Pudova, Inga Šļubovska or Jūlija Vasiļjeva, Rame Lahaj or Raimonds Bramanis a.o.

The cynical jester of the dissolute hedonist duke has a secret – his beloved daughter Gilda. The duke, for whom sanctity does not exist, seduces young maiden. Deeply hurt, her father’s revenge turns back on himself… OperaRigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi earned resounding success already in its Venice premiere in 1851 and love of the public has only increased ever since, elevating this masterpiece into the ranks of the most recognized operas of the world.

This staging of Rigoletto in Latvian National Opera will present opera director Margo Zālīte, master’s program graduate from Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, to our opera audiences.   

For director Margo Zālīte, Rigoletto’s double life and being torn inside is emotional heart of this drama. What is the feeling of having to live in the state of constant concealment? When you cannot be open in front of your daughter? These pressing questions answer why, in the eyes of creative team, Rigoletto lives like being imprisoned. This emotional confinement is reflected in the production as mask worn by Rigoletto in the society. He conceals everything, walks unwholesome roads and (in the end) gets caught in the maze of deception and self-deception.

Further performances on September 19 and 20, October 2 and 15.