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A divided world: Martone's modern Rigoletto returns with power and flaws to La Scala

By Laura Servidei, 10 October 2025

A Rigoletto revival in Milan is elevated by a stellar vocal performance from Amartuvshin Enkhbat, despite a finale that divides opinion and some uneven orchestral pacing.

***11

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***11

Milan

10 Oct 2025

Martone's modern Rigoletto returns with power and flaws to La Scala

By Laura Servidei

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Los Angeles

LA Opera’s Rigoletto: a feast for the ears – and the mind

By Matthew Richard Martinez, 31 May 2025

Quinn Kelsey shines as Verdi’s court jester as Tomer Zvulun's production opens in Los Angeles.

****1

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****1

Los Angeles

31 May 2025

LA Opera’s Rigoletto: a feast for the ears – and the mind

By Matthew Richard Martinez

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Dublin

Terrifically strong principals in Irish National Opera’s new Rigoletto

By Andrew Larkin, 01 December 2024

Michael Chioldi, Soraya Mafi and Bekhzod Davronov shine in Julien Chavez’ energetic production in Dublin’s Bord Gais Theatre.

****1

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****1

Dublin

01 Dec 2024

Terrifically strong principals in Irish National Opera’s Rigoletto

By Andrew Larkin

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Southampton

A dark and disturbing Rigoletto from Welsh National Opera at Mayflower Theatre

By David Truslove, 14 November 2024

Fine performances in a punchy new production that coats this tragic opera in a large dollop of debauchery.

****1

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****1

Southampton

14 Nov 2024

A dark and disturbing Rigoletto from WNO at the Mayflower

By David Truslove

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London

Jonathan Miller’s Rigoletto, Godfather of opera productions, returns to ENO

By Mark Valencia, 30 October 2024

Jonathan Miller’s game-changing mafioso setting of Rigoletto returns to the Coliseum, vividly conducted by Richard Farnes.

***11

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***11

London

30 Oct 2024

Jonathan Miller’s Rigoletto, Godfather of opera productions, returns

By Mark Valencia

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New York City

Quinn Kelsey and Nadine Sierra galvanize the Met’s revival of Bartlett Sher’s Rigoletto

By Susan Stempleski, 30 September 2024

This revival of the company’s 2019 Weimar-inspired staging of Verdi’s heartbreaking masterpiece is distinguished by stylish singing.

****1

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****1

New York City

30 Sep 2024

Superb cast galvanizes the Met’s revival of Bartlett Sher’s Rigoletto

By Susan Stempleski

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Chicago

A starry Rigoletto cast dazzles in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s season opener

By Graham Meyer, 14 September 2024

Through brilliant singing and layered acting, Javier Camarena, Mané Galoyan, and Igor Golovatenko drive a Rigoletto to warm a traditionalist's heart.

****1

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****1

Chicago

14 Sep 2024

Rigoletto cast dazzles in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s season opener

By Graham Meyer

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Budapest

Fine voices, staid production: Rigoletto revived at Hungarian State Opera

By George Jahn, 12 July 2024

Attila Mókus's dramatic baritone was scornful at one moment, tender, distressed, vengeful, or broken in mourning at others, vocal signposts in Rigoletto’s descent into the hell of his own making.

***11

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***11

Budapest

12 Jul 2024

Fine voices, staid production: Rigoletto at Hungarian State Opera

By George Jahn

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London

Amartuvshin Enkhbat’s Rigoletto conquers Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 12 October 2023

It's been a long wait since Cardiff Singer 2015, but the Mongolian baritone gives an outstanding vocal portrayal of Verdi’s doomed jester at the Royal Opera House.

****1

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****1

London

12 Oct 2023

Amartuvshin Enkhbat’s Rigoletto conquers Covent Garden

By David Karlin

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Sydney

Elijah Moshinsky's Rigoletto revived splendidly at Opera Australia

By Jeremy Eccles, 13 June 2023

Could this be the last triumphant outing for the late, great Elijah Moshinksy's moving production of Rigoletto?

*****

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*****

Sydney

13 Jun 2023

Elijah Moshinsky's Rigoletto revived splendidly at Opera Australia

By Jeremy Eccles

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London

Potential but problems in Cecilia Stinton's Rigoletto for Opera Holland Park

By David Karlin, 30 May 2023

A standout performance by Alison Langer as Gilda lights up an Opera Holland Park season opener marred by illness.

***11

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***11

London

30 May 2023

Potential but problems in Holland Park’s new Rigoletto

By David Karlin

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New York City

A new cast brings the Met's Rigoletto to life

By Kevin W Ng, 10 November 2022

Three major Metropolitan Opera debuts bring excitement and vocal glamour to this revival of Bartlett Sher's Rigoletto production.

****1

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****1

New York City

10 Nov 2022

A new cast brings the Met's Rigoletto to life

By Kevin W Ng

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Milan

Mario Martone gives Rigoletto a convincing modern twist at the Teatro alla Scala

By Laura Servidei, 08 July 2022

Conductor Michele Gamba gives a very personal interpretation of Rigoletto, in an intelligent new production by Mario Martone, which seals a great success for the trio of principal singers, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, Nadine Sierra and Piero Pretti.

****1

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****1

Milan

08 Jul 2022

Mario Martone gives Rigoletto a convincing modern twist at La Scala

By Laura Servidei

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Philadelphia

Opera Philadelphia's darkly modern Rigoletto spotlights exciting young singers

By Cameron Kelsall, 29 April 2022

The company returned to its home at the Academy of Music after three years with a brutalist take on Verdi's middle-career masterpiece.

****1

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****1

Philadelphia

29 Apr 2022

Opera Philadelphia's Rigoletto spotlights exciting young singers

By Cameron Kelsall

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Zurich

Gürbaca's Rigoletto is back on the table in Zürich

By Laura Servidei, 10 April 2022

The Opernhaus Zürich revives Tatjana Gürbaca’s uninspiring production of Verdi’s masterpiece, with a solid cast under the baton of Leonardo Sini.

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Zurich

10 Apr 2022

Gürbaca's Rigoletto is back on the table in Zürich

By Laura Servidei

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London

No punches pulled in an excellent Covent Garden Rigoletto

By David Karlin, 23 February 2022

The second cast of the season for Oliver Mears' new Royal Opera production augments the intelligent staging with superb singing and acting.

*****

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*****

London

23 Feb 2022

No punches pulled in an excellent Covent Garden Rigoletto

By David Karlin

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Leeds

Femi Elufowoju's contemporary take on Rigoletto for Opera North

By Richard Wilcocks, 22 January 2022

Femi Elufowju's new staging of Verdi's classic is innovative, provocative and closely connected with the modern world.

*****

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*****

Leeds

22 Jan 2022

Femi Elufowoju's contemporary take on Rigoletto for Opera North

By Richard Wilcocks

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New York City

A trio of vocal triumphs in The Metropolitan Opera's new Rigoletto

By Robert Levine, 04 January 2022

Verdi's Rigoletto in Weimar Germany? A half-baked concept, but Bartlett Sher's new production is certainly dramatic and it is gorgeously sung.

****1

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****1

New York City

04 Jan 2022

A trio of vocal triumphs in The Metropolitan Opera's new Rigoletto

By Robert Levine

London

A striking Rigoletto opens Oliver Mears' account at The Royal Opera

By Mark Pullinger, 13 September 2021

Oliver Mears’ first production since becoming Director of Opera also heralds the start of a new Royal Opera season, with a full house finally returning after the long Covid hiatus.

****1

****1

London

13 Sep 2021

A striking Rigoletto opens Oliver Mears' account at The Royal Opera

By Mark Pullinger

Birmingham

A White House Rigoletto with some impressive voices at Welsh National Opera

By Robert Gainer, 06 November 2019

Welsh National Opera brought a cast of strong voices to Birmingham for a production of Rigoletto intriguingly set in the White House of the 1960s.

***11

***11

Birmingham

06 Nov 2019

A White House Rigoletto with some impressive voices

By Robert Gainer

Glyndebourne

Christiane Lutz casts Rigoletto into the limelight as Charlie Chaplin

By Mark Pullinger, 17 October 2019

The tears of a clown behind the public mask? Glyndebourne's first ever production of Rigoletto takes the audience to Hollywood in the silent film era.

***11

***11

Glyndebourne

17 Oct 2019

Christiane Lutz casts Rigoletto into the limelight as Charlie Chaplin

By Mark Pullinger

Seattle

Timelessly timely: a dark and damning Rigoletto in Seattle

By Thomas May, 10 August 2019

Using the misogyny and violence of Rigoletto to hold up a mirror to contemporary corruption, Lindy Hume's production overcomes its inconsistencies with a vivid blend of theatrical and musical values.

****1

****1

Seattle

10 Aug 2019

Timelessly timely: a dark and damning Rigoletto in Seattle

By Thomas May

London

Jette Parker Young Artists unite for a golden afternoon at Covent Garden

By Mark Valencia, 21 July 2019

The young singers spin any raw material into opera gold, sending the audience home as uplifted as if they’d just glugged a bellyful of Pimm’s.

****1

****1

London

21 Jul 2019

JPYA unite for a golden afternoon at Covent Garden

By Mark Valencia

Bregenz

Staging on steroids: Verdi’s Rigoletto in Bregenz

By Sarah Batschelet, 19 July 2019

Here was the much-loved three-act opera Rigoletto, yes, but chances are, it was one far beyond Verdi’s wildest dreams.

****1

****1

Bregenz

19 Jul 2019

Staging on steroids: Verdi’s Rigoletto in Bregenz

By Sarah Batschelet

Berlin

Polished but emotionally cool: Rigoletto at Staatsoper Berlin

By Zenaida des Aubris, 02 June 2019

Nadine Sierra's Gilda is the highlight of Michael Sher's polished production, which doesn't quite tug at the heartstrings.

***11

***11

Berlin

02 Jun 2019

Polished but cool: Rigoletto at Staatsoper Berlin

By Zenaida des Aubris

Melbourne

Young cast, old production: Opera Australia’s Rigoletto is on song

By Patricia Maunder, 11 May 2019

A much-loved 1991 production evoking Fellini’s post-war glamour and grime is revived with three talented young principals, including Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat in the title role.

****1

****1

Melbourne

11 May 2019

Young cast, old production: Opera Australia’s Rigoletto is on song

By Patricia Maunder

Tokyo

Drama in Verdi's orchestration: Muti conducts the Tokyo Harusai Festival Orchestra in Rigoletto

By Nahoko Gotoh, 04 April 2019

As the culmination of Muti's Italian Opera Academy in Tokyo, the maestro conducted a model performance of selected excerpts from Rigoletto in the main hall of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.

Tokyo

04 Apr 2019

Drama in Verdi's orchestration: Muti conducts Rigoletto excerpts

By Nahoko Gotoh

Stockholm

A static Rigoletto at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm

By Laura Servidei, 28 November 2018

The Kungliga Operan presents a stagnant production of Verdi’s masterpiece, with a competent cast comprised mostly of Swedish singers.

***11

***11

Stockholm

28 Nov 2018

A static Rigoletto at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm

By Laura Servidei

Glasgow

A dark, unflinching Rigoletto from Scottish Opera

By Gregor Forbes, 18 October 2018

More relevant than ever, the patriarchal nightmare of Verdi's Rigoletto is dark and unflinching in Scottish Opera's revival of their 2011 production, with some striking scenes and fine singing.

****1

****1

Glasgow

18 Oct 2018

A dark, unflinching Rigoletto from Scottish Opera

By Gregor Forbes

Belfast

A gripping, dark, moving Rigoletto from Northern Ireland Opera

By Leighton Jones, 30 September 2018

Since their creation in 2010, NIO has brought unconventional opera productions to Northern Ireland. Their Rigoletto is bold, emotional and engaging with a stellar cast of local and international talent.

****1

****1

Belfast

30 Sep 2018

A gripping, dark, moving Rigoletto from NIO

By Leighton Jones

Naples

A solid, dramatic staging for Rigoletto in Naples

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 14 July 2018

A trusty and convincing version of the masterpiece, with a cast of well-matched singers.

****1

****1

Naples

14 Jul 2018

A solid, dramatic staging for Rigoletto in Naples

By Lorenzo Fiorito

Toronto

Crisper, tighter, more relevant: revival of Christopher Alden's Rigoletto at the COC

By John Gilks, 20 January 2018

Christopher Alden’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto returned to Toronto tighter, more focussed and with fewer dramatic incongruities. Add to this that every aspect of the music making was top notch and it made for a fine evening at the theatre.

****1

****1

Toronto

20 Jan 2018

Crisper, tighter, more relevant: Alden's Rigoletto at the COC

By John Gilks

London

Dimitri Platanias stands out in a mixed Covent Garden Rigoletto

By David Karlin, 14 December 2017

The father-daughter exchanges between Dmitri Platanias's jester and Sofia Fomina's Gilda prove the highlights of an evening which doesn't always catch fire.

***11

***11

London

14 Dec 2017

Dimitri Platanias stands out in a mixed Covent Garden Rigoletto

By David Karlin

Wexford

Rigoletto showcases great new voices at Wexford Festival Opera

By Pia Maltri, 22 October 2017

Even in a festival like Wexford’s, you cannot resist the attraction of a beloved opera that you know by heart.

****1

****1

Wexford

22 Oct 2017

Rigoletto showcases great new voices at Wexford Festival Opera

By Pia Maltri

Chicago

Surrealist Rigoletto at the Lyric impresses with vocal talent

By Dan Wang, 07 October 2017

The Lyric Opera’s new production of Rigoletto evokes visually the contours and high-contrast relief of a surrealist painting.

***11

***11

Chicago

07 Oct 2017

Surrealist Rigoletto impresses at the Lyric

By Dan Wang

Savonlinna

McVicar brings his inimitable vision of Rigoletto to the Savonlinna Festival

By Dominic Lowe, 10 July 2017

David McVicar's production may divide audiences with its no holds barred approach to the debauchery of the court of Mantua, but is well worth seeing for the Gilda of Tuuli Takala.

****1

****1

Savonlinna

10 Jul 2017

McVicar 's Rigoletto travels to the Savonlinna Festival

By Dominic Lowe

San Francisco

Quinn Kelsey excels as Rigoletto in San Francisco

By Donna Stoering, 31 May 2017

If you love Verdi's inventive music, enjoy fabulous male voices in particular, and appreciate great opera conducting with exquisitely sensitive orchestral playing – then this Rigoletto is a must.

****1

****1

San Francisco

31 May 2017

Quinn Kelsey excels as Rigoletto in San Francisco

By Donna Stoering

Amsterdam

Rigoletto is mad but the singing is fine at Dutch National Opera

By Jenny Camilleri, 09 May 2017

Damiano Michieletto’s intriguing production of Rigoletto is set in a mental hospital, and sidelines emotion in favour of analysis. The singing, on the other hand, is heartfelt and exciting.

***11

***11

Amsterdam

09 May 2017

Rigoletto is mad but the singing is fine

By Jenny Camilleri

Frankfurt am Main

A dark and stunning new Rigoletto in Frankfurt

By Ako Imamura, 28 April 2017

Oper Frankfurt's new production of Rigoletto focuses on the dark side of the tragedy with excellent singing from the two principals.

****1

****1

Frankfurt am Main

28 Apr 2017

A dark and stunning new Rigoletto

By Ako Imamura

Hamburg

Andreas Homoki’s Rigoletto brings the Bundesliga to the Hamburg Staatsoper

By Jonathan Sutherland, 16 March 2017

At least the colour-coded characters in Andreas Homoki’s farcical production made it easy to know which team to barrack for.

**111

**111

Hamburg

16 Mar 2017

Homoki’s Rigoletto brings the Bundesliga to Hamburg

By Jonathan Sutherland

London

Miller's Rigoletto makes a flawed return to English National Opera

By Dominic Lowe, 02 February 2017

Jonathan Miller's production remains a work of brilliance, but poor conducting amongst other things keeps this revival from getting off the ground.

***11

***11

London

02 Feb 2017

Miller's Rigoletto makes a flawed return to ENO

By Dominic Lowe

New York City

The Met hits the jackpot with revival of its Vegas Rigoletto

By Oliver Brett, 20 January 2017

The gambling tables and neon lights of Las Vegas might not be the images which immediately enter your head when you think of Verdi’s Rigoletto, but bold art is often created and progressed by the pushing of boundaries and by challenging audiences to reimagine the familiar.

****1

****1

New York City

20 Jan 2017

Met hits the jackpot with revival of its Vegas Rigoletto

By Oliver Brett

Naples

Tragedy comes full circle in San Carlo's Rigoletto

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 18 January 2017

In this staging of Verdi’s masterpiece, the director reminds us that the ominous epilogue springs from its short prelude.

****1

****1

Naples

18 Jan 2017

Tragedy comes full circle in San Carlo's Rigoletto

By Lorenzo Fiorito

Milan

On all cylinders: Leo Nucci and Nadine Sierra thrill in La Scala's classic Rigoletto

By James Imam, 13 January 2016

Leo Nucci visceral animal of the stage has over 500 performances of the role under his belt, and, at the age of 73, he now eats this operatic challenge for breakfast

****1

****1

Milan

13 Jan 2016

Nucci and Sierra thrill in La Scala's classic Rigoletto

By James Imam

New York City

The Met overindulges in a decadent Rigoletto

By Sacha Evans, 23 October 2015

Does it really matter where an opera is set? These days, this question seems to trail Rigoletto.

***11

***11

New York City

23 Oct 2015

The Met overindulges in a decadent Rigoletto

By Sacha Evans

Vancouver

Vancouver Opera’s Rigoletto redeemed by its cast

By Kevin W Ng, 03 October 2015

Vancouver Opera's opening production of the 2015-16 season features an ideal cast let down by stale production

***11

***11

Vancouver

03 Oct 2015

Vancouver Opera’s Rigoletto redeemed by its cast

By Kevin W Ng

Moreton-in-Marsh

Longborough delivers a quality Rigoletto 1920s-style

By Robert Gainer, 04 July 2015

Producing one of the most well-known and popular operas in a fresh way on a limited budget is a challenge for anyone. Longborough Festival Opera show how it can be done.

****1

****1

Moreton-in-Marsh

04 Jul 2015

Longborough delivers a quality Rigoletto 1920s-style

By Robert Gainer

Santa Fe

Santa Fe Rigoletto offers a gimmick-free Mantua where vocal authority rules

By Michael Wade Simpson, 04 July 2015

Quinn Kelsey's Rigoletto is commanding, emotional and complex. His bass-baritone has all the qualities you could ask for – darkness and light.

****1

****1

Santa Fe

04 Jul 2015

Santa Fe Rigoletto offers a gimmick-free Mantua

By Michael Wade Simpson

Vienna

Rewards, disappointments, but saved by the music: Rigoletto at Vienna State Opera

By Paul Selar, 17 June 2015

In Vienna State Opera's new production of Rigoletto, director Pierre Audi brings us close to a Rigoletto less freakish, more identifiably everyday.

***11

***11

Vienna

17 Jun 2015

Rigoletto at Vienna State Opera: saved by the music

By Paul Selar

Amsterdam

James Gaffigan conducts a full-blooded Rigoletto at the Concertgebouw

By Nicolas Nguyen, 14 March 2015

James Gaffigan, aided by a fine cast of soloists led by the full-blooded Rigoletto of Dimitri Platanias, demonstrated that Verdi's powerfully dramatic music does not need staging to keep the audience captivated.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

14 Mar 2015

A full-blooded Rigoletto at the Concertgebouw

By Nicolas Nguyen