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Opera Philadelphia's darkly modern Rigoletto spotlights exciting young singers

Raven McMillon (Gilda) and Anthony Clark Evans (Rigoletto)
© Dominic M Mercier
Joshua Blue (Duke), Kristen Choi (Maddalena), Raven McMillon (Gilda) and Anthony Clark Evans
© Dominic M Mercier
Opera Philadelphia chorus
© Dominic M Mercier
Kara Goodrich (Countess Ceprano) and Joshua Blue (Duke of Mantua)
© Dominic M Mercier
Wei Wu (Sparafucile) and Anthony Clark Evans (Rigoletto)
© Dominic M Mercier
By Cameron Kelsall, 01 May 2022
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“often visually striking and dramaturgically cloudy”
Reviewed at Academy of Music, Philadelphia on 29 April 2022
Programme
Verdi, Rigoletto
Performers
Opera Philadelphia
Corrado Rovaris, Conductor
Lindy Hume, Director
Richard Roberts, Set Designer, Costume Designer
Opera Philadelphia Orchestra
Opera Philadelphia Chorus
Daniel Pelzig, Revival Director
Joshua Blue, The Duke of Mantua
Anthony Clark Evans, Rigoletto
Raven McMillon, Gilda
Wei Wu, Sparafucile
Kristen Choi, Maddalena
Julius Ahn, Borsa
Lauren Decker, Giovanna
Ben Wager, Monterone
Kara Goodrich, Countess Ceprano
Lindsey Reynolds, Page
Frank Mitchell, Court Usher
Robert Mellon, Marullo
Grant Youngblood, Count Ceprano
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In his role debut as the Genoan Doge, the American baritone continues to burnish his bona fides as the premier Verdi baritone of his generation.
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More reviews...
Read reviews of
Anthony Clark EvansBen WagerCorrado RovarisDaniel PelzigFrank MitchellGiuseppe VerdiGrant YoungbloodJoshua BlueJulius AhnKara GoodrichKristen ChoiLauren DeckerLindsey ReynoldsLindy HumeOpera PhiladelphiaOpera Philadelphia ChorusOpera Philadelphia OrchestraRaven McMillonRichard RobertsRigolettoWei Wu
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Cameron Kelsall
Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.