Description

Verdi: Rigoletto – Fabio Luisi, Opernhaus Zürich (DVD)

UPC: 7640165882030

Product Features

Title: Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi
Conductor: Fabio Luisi
Stage Director: Tatjana Gürbaca
Set and Lighting Designer: Klaus Grünberg
Costume Designer: Silke Willrett
Chorus Master: Ernst Raffelsberger
Chorus and Orchestra: Philharmonia Zürich, Chor der Oper Zürich
Recorded: Live at the Opernhaus Zürich, June 2014
Running Time: 124 minutes (opera) + 15 minutes (bonus)
Picture Format: NTSC, 16:9
Audio Formats:Subtitles: German, English, French
- PCM Stereo
- Dolby Digital 5.1
- DTS 5.1
Disc Format: DVD-9
Publisher: Philharmonia Records

Overview

This DVD presents a 2014 live recording of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, performed at the Opernhaus Zürich and conducted by Fabio Luisi, featuring an outstanding cast and directed by Tatjana Gürbaca. Verdi's beloved opera, a gripping story of betrayal, revenge, and tragedy, is staged with a modern, emotionally charged production.

George Petean delivers a powerful portrayal of the hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto, with Aleksandra Kurzak as his innocent daughter Gilda, and Saimir Pirgu as the charming yet villainous Duke of Mantua. The performance, supported by the Philharmonia Zürich and the Chor der Oper Zürich, is both musically and dramatically intense, emphasizing the psychological depth of the characters.

Tatjana Gürbaca’s production sets the opera in a contemporary, minimalistic environment, bringing a fresh perspective to Verdi's timeless work.

Cast

Rigoletto: George Petean
Gilda: Aleksandra Kurzak
Duke of Mantua: Saimir Pirgu
Sparafucile: Andrea Mastroni
Maddalena: Judith Schmid
Giovanna: Julia Riley
Monterone: Valeriy Murga
Marullo: Cheyne Davidson
Borsa: Dmitry Ivanchey
Ceprano: Yuriy Tsiple
Contessa di Ceprano: Deanna Breiwick

Interesting Facts

Fabio Luisi is one of the world’s leading conductors, known for his work with the Zurich Opera, as well as being Principal Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Aleksandra Kurzak, renowned for her vocal brilliance and emotional depth, brings a poignant vulnerability to the role of Gilda.
The production emphasizes Rigoletto’s psychological turmoil, depicting his relationship with Gilda as central to the tragic narrative.
The Opernhaus Zürich is celebrated for its innovative and bold opera stagings, making this performance a standout in its repertoire.
The bonus feature includes behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and insights into the production process.