Stars: Aquiles Machado, Leo Nucci, Inva Mula, Arena Di Verona Chorus And Orch, Marcello Viotti

Summary: Verdi's timeless opera performed at Italy's best preserved amphitheatre, the Arena di Verona, which dates from the first century, in July, 2001.

Francesco Maria Piave's operatic tale of court corruption is moving and heart wrenching, a tragedy as only opera can express is presented in three acts from the Arena di Verona. Music by Giuseppe Verdi.

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If there are doubts still lingering about the Royal Opera House's artistic renaissance after its mid-1990s doldrum years, David McVicar's gritty and sexy production of Rigolettoshould blow them all away. One of the principal reasons is McVicar's decision to emphasise the tyrannical nature of the Duke (beautifully sung by Marcelo Alvarez), and the appalling social injustice that springs from a corrupt leader: his court is a place of physical and sexual abuse (graphically, but by no means gratuitously, depicted). This violence throws the dual nature of Rigoletto into relief, making his toadyism seem all the worse and his vengefulness all the more sympathetic.

The singing and acting are first rate, with Paolo Gavanelli's energetic, insect-like Rigoletto worthy even to stand against Anthony Sher's Richard III. Christine Schafer has a gorgeous voice, an intelligent sense of phrasing, and plays Gilda as a frail, morbid creature whose ultimate self-sacrifice is as much an act of neurotic despair as of love. The production is also a visual and orchestral success. Michael Vale's set is a masterpiece of economy--both the Duke's palace and Rigoletto's home are surrounded by broken objects, wire fencing and gloomy shadows--and Edward Downes draws some stunning playing from the Royal Opera Orchestra. This is undoubtedly the best Rigolettocommitted to DVD thus far.

On the DVDRigolettocomes with an entertaining 17-minute BBC biography of the composer, "Verdi Through the Looking Glass", presented by conductor Charles Hazlewood, as well as an illustrated synopsis of the opera, and a revealing 10-minute interview with the director. There are subtitles in English, French, German, Dutch and Spanish.--Warwick Thomson

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	Italian
Region:	Region 0
Subtitles:	English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Year:	2001
Release Date:	April 2, 2002
Runtime:	134 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	D V O P R I G
Keywords:	Music, Arena, Opera, Wide, Screen, Verona, Works, Rigoletto, Stage, Verdi, Giuseppe, Classical, Performing, Operetta, Arts
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts