Greek National Opera—Derrick Inouye—Katerina Evangelatos

Rigoletto
by Giuseppe Verdi

One of Giuseppe Verdi's many masterpieces and among the most significant operatic works of the 19th century, Rigoletto saw the light of day in Venice in 1851, remaining one of the most celebrated lyrical works of all time.

Francesco Maria Piave’s libretto, arranged in three acts, draws its inspiration from Victor Hugo’s play Le roi s'amuse (“The King Amuses Himself”). At the heart of this tragic tale lies the love of innocent Gilda—the daughter of the hunchbacked court jester Rigoletto—for the debauched Duke of Mantua. Disguised as a poor student, the Duke seduces Gilda, sending Rigoletto down a spiral of vengeance. Yet, in the face of her father’s grim scheme, Gilda uncovers the truth and takes the place of the intended victim, saving the man she loves in an act of ultimate self-sacrifice.

By thrusting into the limelight an outcast—the court jester Rigoletto—the work taps into poignant human truths. Rigoletto is not merely a tragic tale; it is a work that directs social critique, dissects human nature, examines moral decay, and explores the struggle between love and vengeance, as well as the protection of the vulnerable—issues and dilemmas that touch upon any era. With its dramatic vigour, Verdi’s music is profoundly moving, while the work’s characters possess a human depth that strikes a nerve with the audience of each era.

Katerina Evangelatos’ angle on the story is daring and precise, vividly colouring the story and cycle of violence in the Italian provinces of the 1980s, as originally imagined by Verdi. The director exposes Rigoletto’s deeply conflicting and tormented personality within a suffocating society weighed down by religious bigotry, conservatism, and prejudices—a world where women are profoundly disparaged and organised crime prevails. The Orchestra of the Greek National Opera is conducted by Derrick Inouye.

This production was first unveiled with resounding success at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in 2022. Its revival, three years later in the same iconic venue, marks the conclusion of the Greek National Opera’s 2024/25 artistic season.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

  • 26/07/2025 at 21:00
  • 27/07/2025 at 21:00
  • 29/07/2025 at 21:00
  • 30/07/2025 at 21:00
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