Rigoletto facts for kids

Poster for the first performance of Rigoletto

Rigoletto is a famous opera from Italy. It has three acts. An opera is like a play where the story is told mostly through singing. Giuseppe Verdi wrote all the music for Rigoletto. The words and story, called the libretto, were written by Francesco Maria Piave. He got the idea from a play by Victor Hugo called Le Roi s'amuse.

The opera Rigoletto was first shown in Venice, Italy, on March 11, 1851. It was performed at a famous theater called the Teatro La Fenice. Verdi wrote this opera when he was in the middle of his career. The story and music were quite different from other operas at that time.

Rigoletto was a huge hit right away! Even today, it is still one of the most loved and popular operas. The most well-known song from the opera is called "La donna è mobile." This means "Women always change their minds." Many tenor singers perform this song in their concerts.

The Story of Rigoletto

The story of Rigoletto happens in a city called Mantua in Italy. The time is the 16th century.

Rigoletto, Gilda, and the Duke

The main character, Rigoletto, is a jester. He works for the powerful Duke of Mantua. A jester's job is to make people laugh, but Rigoletto also has a secret: his daughter, Gilda. He tries to protect her from the Duke, who is known for being unkind to women.

Gilda and the Duke fall in love. Rigoletto believes the Duke has taken Gilda to his palace. He is very angry and wants revenge.

A Tragic Plan

Rigoletto decides to hire a hitman named Sparafucile. He pays Sparafucile to kill the Duke.

However, Gilda loves the Duke and wants to save him. That night, she puts on men's clothes. She takes the Duke's place, hoping to trick Sparafucile. Sparafucile thinks she is the Duke and sadly kills her instead.

He puts Gilda's dead body in a bag. Then, he gives the bag to Rigoletto. When Rigoletto opens the bag, he is horrified. He sees that his own daughter, Gilda, has been killed, not the Duke. It is a very sad and tragic ending.

Main Characters and Voice Types

In an opera, singers have different voice types. Here are the main characters in Rigoletto and their voice types:

• Rigoletto - a baritone (a male voice that is lower than a tenor but higher than a bass)
• Gilda - a soprano (the highest female singing voice)
• Duke of Mantua - a tenor (the highest male singing voice)
• Maddalena - a mezzo-soprano (a female voice that is lower than a soprano but higher than a contralto)
• Sparafucile - a bass (the lowest male singing voice)
• Monterone - a bass

Images for kids

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  Verdi around 1850

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  Felice Varesi, the first Rigoletto

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  Teresa Brambilla, the first Gilda

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  Costumes for the Duke of Mantua and Gilda published by Casa Ricordi shortly after the 1851 premiere

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  Act 1, scene 1: Victor Hugo's Le Roi s'amuse

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  Act 1, scene 2 stage set by Giuseppe Bertoja for the world premiere of Rigoletto

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  Set design for Rigoletto act 1, scene 2 (1903)

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  "Bella figlia dell'amore" scene, depicted by Roberto Focosi in an early edition of the vocal score

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  Enrico Caruso in the role of the Duke

See also

In Spanish: Rigoletto para niños