Rigoletto

Verdi’s tragic tale of misplaced love is splendidly enacted by this magnificent cast. Luciano Pavarotti is the elegant, licentious Duke of Mantua who successfully woos the innocent Gilda (Reri Grist) while he’s disguised as a poor student. When he ruins her, her father, Rigoletto (Ingvar Wixell) decides to get revenge—and ends up losing the only thing he loves. With James Levine conducting, all the color and drama Verdi poured into his score are thrillingly realized.