This post has nothing to do with the Marx Brothers or Queen. I went to the dress rehearsal of Rigoletto last night. Our friend Bruce volunteers with the Seattle Opera. Since his main date was out of town and Julian wasn’t up to go, I joined Bruce.
The Seattle production of Rigoletto is set in a more modern time than 1840’s Italy. Some operas can get away with such a treatment. Rigoletto, unfortunately, can’t. The plot is sadly dated. Rigoletto, the main character, is a hunchback who is the object of derision. His patron, the Duke of Mantua, keeps him around because he tells jokes. The Duke is a lecherous cad who’ll seduce anyone with two X chromosomes. The Duke’s entourage kidnaps Rigoletto’s daughter so she can be the Duke’s latest conquest. I think the opera would have been better in its original setting.
To be fair, the music was excellent and the singers were first rate. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the story.
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