Rigoletto (Verdi)

Teatro Lirico D’Europa with Connecticut Virtuosi Orchestra presents:

RIGOLETTO 

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play Le roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theaters at the time, the opera had a triumphant premiere at La Fenice in Venice on 11 March 1851. The work, Verdi’s sixteenth in the genre, is widely considered to be the first of the operatic masterpieces of Verdi’s middle-to-late career.

The tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda. The opera’s original title, La Maledizion (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by the Count Monterone, whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto’s encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.

This is a full-scale, traditional Italian production with beautiful sets and costumes created in Europe.

English supertitles.

CAST:

Baritone:             Michael Nansel – RIGOLETTO
Tenor:                  Victor Starsky – DUKE
Soprano:             Hanna Brammer – GILDA
Basso:                 Steven Fredericks – SPARAFUCILE
Mezzo Soprano: Rebecca De Almeida – MADDALENA
Bass Baritone:   Vladimir Hristov – MONTERONE
Bass Baritone:   Nathan Strock –  MARULLO

Maestro:              Adrian Sylveen – Conductor

Chorus Master:  Rider Foster
Stage Director:   Giorgio Lalov –  Sets, costumes and lights

Michael Nansel – RIGOLETTO: Michael Nansel is an award-winning singer and actor. Best known as an opera singer, he is also an accomplished recitalist and concert artist and appears frequently in musical theater classics. Between Opera and Musicals, Mr. Nansel has over 80-roles to his credit. He sings music from the Mozart to Sondheim, from Verdi to Rodger & Hammerstein. He was the Wichita Grand Opera Singer of the Year in 2012 and was the dual winner in 2003 of the Washington Area Theatre Community Honors for continued

Victor Starsky – DUKE OF MANTUA: Tenor Victor Starsky, a native of Richmond Hill, New York, received critical acclaim this year for his performances as Don José in Sarasota Opera’s production of Bizet’s CARMEN, as well as his role debuts with New York City Opera as Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s TOSCA and Maurizio in Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s production of Cilea’s ADRIANA LECOUVREUR. Starsky made his debut as Nemorino with Charlottesville Opera in their production of Donizetti’s L’ELISIR D’AMORE. Starsky performed the role of Jim Casy continued

Hanna Brammer – GILDA: Praised by Opera News as “Magnificent” for her portrayal of Pamina, and gain in her role debut as Juliette, with Sarasota Opera: “Brammer has a lovely, bright sound and enviable flexibility, with coloratura that flows like glistening water.” – Edward Alley. Hanna made her professional debut in 2014, as Rose Maurrant in Opera North’s production of STREET SCENE, by Kurt Weill. Since then Hanna has gone on to sing leading roles with Opera Columbus, Nashville Opera, Mississippi Opera, Opera Memphis, Festival Amadeus, continued

Teatro Lirico D’Europa

Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by the late Yves Josse, a former ballet divo and brilliant French arts promoter, and Giorgio Lalov, a young Bulgarian opera singer who made his debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, at the age of 25 while participating in Scala’s famous international training program for young singers. The collaboration between Josse and Lalov was a huge success in a very short time, resulting in tours with over 250 performances a season worldwide.

From the very beginning, the company established itself as highly competent in delivering traditional, full-scale productions featuring a full, professional orchestra and chorus, and professional opera singers who performed at the top national theatres in their native countries. The unusual chemistry of the company proved to be very popular with European audiences. Teatro Lirico D’Europa had completed over 2,000 performances worldwide at the time of Josse’s passing in 1995.

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra

Established in 1997, the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is Connecticut’s premier professional chamber orchestra, based in the Greater New Britain area, and dedicated to presenting both traditional and contemporary works to the public. As artists, the Virtuosi strive to be cultural leaders and teachers and to inspire our audiences to recognize the beauty and quality of classical music in any form.

The Orchestra, led by founder and artistic director Adrian Sylveen, presents approximately ten critically acclaimed concert and opera programs each season. Virtuosi also presents eight school concerts for the New Britain Department of Education. The group performs thirty times a season in New Britain, Hartford, New London, Middletown, New York, and Waterbury. Virtuosi also presented occasional concerts in Mystic, Meriden, New York City, and Pennsylvania.