Gilda was not at fault

In general, the characters in opera tend to have a bad time. For Gilda, the only daughter of Rigoletto, misfortunes piled one on top of the other. She was left without a mother and guarded by a father for whom even a shadow was to be mistrusted. Then, the young and (very) innocent daughter of the jester falls in love with the most inappropriate person: the Duke of Mantua who, besides being her father’s boss, treats women as merchandise (his favourite song is - of course - La donna è mobile). The adolescent love triangle plus an overprotective father ambitious for revenge could never end well. Especially for Gilda, who is perhaps the most unfortunate heroine in Italian opera.

For the dramatic fire to burn, there is no better fuel than the music of Giuseppe Verdi. The impeccable plot of Rigoletto and a group of characters without artifice inspired the composer for one of his most intense, direct and high impact works. The false brilliance of the Ducal court, the darkness in which the protagonists are immersed, the deep anger which feeds the father and buffoon… all this is transformed into relentless action and vibrant melody. A totally unforgettable experience.


The Teatro de la Maestranza continues its ongoing commitment to young audiences by programming opera previews for the Under 30s at a single price of 10€.