A father’s curse, a daughter’s fate. As innocence is shattered, revenge becomes the only prayer.
At the Duke’s infamous parties, one man’s words light the darkness with a sinister glitter. Among the glamorous girls and greasy gangsters, Rigoletto serves his master with sharp wits and averted eyes.
From the moment he wrote it, Verdi knew he had a hit on his hands. The story has everything: royalty, loyalty, devotion, lust and revenge.
And the music? The music is sensational, so full of hummable tunes that Verdi demanded complete secrecy from his premiere cast. The tenor was forbidden from even whistling the catchy ‘La donna è mobile’ outside of rehearsals.
The morning after Rigoletto’s triumphant première, that melody rang out in the streets: a hit for ever after.
Elijah Moshinsky’s much-loved production of Rigoletto returns to the Sydney Opera House stage, complete with its glamorous La Dolce Vita-inspired sets and costumes and scene-stealing Fiat 500. The revolving dolls-house style set gives cinematic detail to each scene.
We’ve assembled a brilliant cast led by Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini in his Opera Australia debut. Dalibor Jenis reprises his acclaimed performance as the tortured jester at the heart of Verdi’s masterpiece, with Kang Wang as the Duke and rising star Gemma Nha as the jester’s daughter.
Event Details:
Dates: 21 July–21 August 2026
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, including one interval.
Suitable for: Mature audiences
Location: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Warnings: This production contains sexual violence, violence against women and strobe lighting effects.
Notes: Performed in Italian with English surtitles.