RIGOLETTO
Assistant Director
Royal Opera - Autumn 2023
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Conductor: Renato Balsadonna
Director: Oliver Mears
Revival Director: Simon Iorio
Set Designer: Simon Lima Holdsworth
Costume Designer: Ilona Karas
Lighting Designer: Fabiana Piccioli
Movement Director: Anna Morrissey
Assistant Director: Eleanor Strutt
Music preparation: Christopher Willis & Susanna Stranders
Fight Director: Kev McCurdy
Assistant to the Movement Director: Aimee Dulake
Language Coach: Alessandra Fasolo -
Duke of Mantua: Saimir Pirgu
Rigoletto: Simon Keenleyside
Gilda: Erin Morley
Sparafucile: Goderdzi Janelidze
Maddalena: Elena Maximova
Giovanna: Veena Akama-Makia
Count Monterone: Bogdan Talos
Marullo: Josef Jeongmeen Ahn
Matteo Borsa: Ryan Vaughan Davies
Count Ceprano: Jamie Woollard
Countess Ceprano: Amanda Baldwin
Page: Louise Armit
Court Usher: Nigel Cliffe
Monterone’s Daughter: Sarah Ekuhoho-SharmanDancers: Emily Adams, Cristina Chinchilla, Chloe Dowell, Aimee Dulake, Keiko Hewitt-Teale, Soledad de la Hoz, Jessie Jing
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Principal Guest Concert Master: Vasko VassilevRoyal Opera Chorus
Chorus Director: William Spaulding -
★ ★ ★ ★ THE PAPER - JESSICA DUCHAN
“This handsome production of Verdi’s masterpiece lets both singers and orchestra shine.
THE SPECTATOR - RICHARD BRATBY
“At the Royal Opera, Oliver Mears’s 2021 production of Rigoletto has received its first revival… it passed the test in rude health, with the storm-swept third act in particular generating an escalating sense of horror. …Saimir Pirgu made a notably macho Duke of Mantua, belting his big moments straight out and into the gods (the crowd went wild). And two performances were notably fine. Simon Keenlyside – in noble voice – made an upsettingly relatable Rigoletto and Erin Morley was an all-too-vulnerable Gilda, singing with heartbreaking sweetness and purity.”
@dasopernglas
“Fantastic! Simon Keenleyside is reprising... his immensely intense portrayal of Verdi’s Rigoletto in the production of the Royal Opera House in London. At his side the rich toned and powerful tenor of Saimir Pirgu. Renato Balsadonna conducted a surprisingly vivid and full-bodied performance with drive and dynamics that made a memorable night.”AUDIENCE MEMBER
“It was a brilliant evening - so very enjoyable and a complete thrill to be watching something that [Eleanor] helped bring to fruition.”
© Tristram Kenton