Rigoletto (Black Dog Opera Library)

Black Dog Opera Library

by Francesco Maria Piave, Daniel S. Brink, Giuseppe Verdi (Composer)

BThe lack Dog Opera Library presents Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto featuring Beverly Sills, Sherrill Milnes and Alfredo Kraus. A marriage of music and the written word in the most complete and popularly priced package yet produced, each of these sets includes a complete opera on two Angel/EMI compact discs, accompanied by the complete libretto in its original language and English translation with annotated commentary. Full-color photographs illustrate the history of the operas, and an entertaining text discusses the musical heritage of the composers, the music and the performances.

Genres: Music, Classics, Plays, Theatre

124 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1851

Reviews

[Illiterate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A melodramatic tragedy with strong characters, emotional heft, political resonance, and a great score.

[Recensioni in tre parole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tormentato. Oscuro. Straziante.

[Amandine]

Review: italiano / français

Un pò difficile a leggere per me, forse perché è in verso e meno "naturale" che della prosa che ho già letto. Non mi piace tanto questo libretto: manca la musica (preferisco vedere e sentire un'opera che leggerlo) e, perché la difficoltà di lettura, gli emozioni (all'eccezione della fine con la morta di Gilda, non ho niente sentito, ne gioia o rido, ne tristezza). Non so veramente quale nota mettere perché non mi piace la lettura, ma so che mi piacerebbe molto la rappresentazione.

Un peu difficile à lire pour moi, peut-être parce qu'écrit en vers et donc moins "naturel" que de la prose. Je n'ai pas tellement aimé ce livret: il y manquait la musique (je préfère voir et entendre un opéra, plutôt que le lire) et, à cause de ma difficulté de lecture, les émotions (à l'exception de la fin avec la mort de Gilda, je n'ai rien ressenti, ni joie ou rire, ni tristesse). Je ne sais pas vraiment quelle note mettre puisque je n'apprécie pas la lecture, mais je sais que j'aimerais la représentation.

[Agnes ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars for this particular edition, as the unnecessarily loose translation bothered me immensely. However, if one doesn't care about this aspect, the additional information about the opera, composer and the actual music is very interesting and educational.

My sister and I went to Rigoletto in the Arena Verona and it was wonderful, absolutely magical - extraordinary and special - as one gets to listen to beautiful music while the sun sets slowly in the background...
In summary, if you ever are in Verona during the summer, an opera in the Arena is an absolute must!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The libretto is sweet and short, read it in preparation of going to see the opera. The drama! Poor Gilda, her wasted little heart brought her ruin, and poor Rigoletto, making such a regrettable mistake! The Duke is my favourite, unfortunately, I love his theme, and he is an amazing catalyst for the tragedy of the story!

[Mikaela S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

[12:15pm-1:15pm] I picked up this opera series from a thrift store for the aesthetic, but it was truly an amazing read. Understanding the background and historical setting opened the definition of “classic” to a whole new level.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia professoressa direbbe che sarei mato. Lol.
Quest’opera è una degli supremi di Verdi🤩

[Paco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy does not miss.

[Javier Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wicked twist. There's no last laugh for the jester. The horrific jokes on him.

[Two Readers in Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

The libretto is available in translation in the public domain: http://www.murashev.com/opera/Rigolet...

One of my favorite operas -- I keep discovering new things every time I re-read the libretto and see the different interpretation of the roles. I would like to read "Le roi s'amuse" as a point of comparison.

------

12Dec15 - Read in preparation for y first visit to the Metropolitan Opera house! Željko Lučić , Piotr Beczała, Soprano Nadine Sierra in a Rat Pack inspired Regietheater that really hit home for me. Fell in love with opera!

Jan 2016 - Reread libretto for Royal Opera House production on DVD, and 2013 Met Opera production on DVD (Željko Lučić, Diana Damrau, and tenor Piotr Beczała).

24Aug20 - Metopera.org pandemic stream of 2013 production: Željko Lučić, Diana Damrau, and tenor Piotr Beczała as the Duke

30Dec20 - Metopera.org pandemic free stream, Pavarotti week. "tarring as the Duke of Mantua, a role he sang 19 times at the Met, tenor Luciano Pavarotti headlines a 1981 performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto. The historic telecast also stars baritone Louis Quilico as the brooding title jester and soprano Christiane Eda-Pierre as his daughter, Gilda. Stream John Dexter’s powerful staging tonight, December 30, starting at 7:30PM ET."

[Jason Loeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much The Count of Monte Cristo meets Les Miserables - and a very good score to boot. So far, in terms of opera, it's this or Tosca. Take your pick.

[Abie Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite operas.

[Maan Kawas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Che meraviglia!! Mi piace molto! The story is powerful and the libretto is wonderful! Verdi's 'Rigoletto' is one of my favorite operas.