Rigoletto exists on the margins of a world owned by the privileged few – and is despised by them for his difference. Twisted inside by the life he has been forced to lead, the only thing he lives for is his daughter, Gilda, of whom he is obsessively protective. When a combination of bitterness and bravura gets the better of him, the consequences for his most precious possession are fatal.
First and foremost, I loved this. I really enjoyed it. In a simple, unaffected, unpretentious way, I’m saying it was great and a good night out at the theatre.
I’ve been fortunate to see a good few operas over the years, many of them brought to the stage by Opera North. And it’s always been a pleasure.
I almost have to check myself to actually mention the immense talent and beauty in the performances at the heart of the productions, because I’m almost complacent that this is a given. That’s all very well in my world as I’ve already had the pleasure, my enjoyment fuelled by this always met expectation. But reader (hello mum), know that this is the case.
Opera North is a creative behemoth at what it does and so there is room for license in how it executes and delivers stories that have been told across centuries. Their productions in terms of set design and costume is always a lovely surprise and this was no exception.
The company seemingly had some fun with this one, with clowns, dandies, trackies, tuxedos, traditional dress and sixties sass.
My favourite set was the girly fever dream pinterest board and the backdrop to Glinda (Jasmine Habersham) Rigoletto’s (Blake Denson) daughter’s dwelling. Please believe me when I say this with full sincerity. Balloons, zebras and toucans – I’ll take them all.
Cut later to Piccadilly Gardens an apparent den of inequity, the scene of the crime (and several before that seemingly), and the opposite end of the spectrum but no less impressive. A burnt out car, tents, vagrancy and a hole in the wall style hostelry. The juxtaposition between the two worlds does much to feed into the sadness of what is later to transpire.
And now for my favourite device which caused appreciative mirth in its execution – the lift at the Duke’s (Leonardo Sanchez) residence, incoming visitors signalled by the deliciously retro descending series of lights as it travelled down the shaft to reach its destination. The hyperbole I use here is intentional and fitting as it was more than the sum of its parts.
Rigoletto is sung in Italian, with English subtitles, and the company are keen to land the message that opera is accessible and for those who have been to many and too those that have never been before. We learn before the performance that they estimate that by the end of this run of Rigoletto, Opera North will have reached 3500 ‘first-timers’. Marvellous. And I’d bet my last packet of Wotsits (I like those cheeky little maize-based snacks, ok?) that for those there on Thursday will have liked what they saw (and heard).
Not all operas are created equal, but I consider Rigoletto to particularly fine as a gateway story in delivering the theatre-goer safely and comfortably into the world it inhabits. Debauchery, revelry, goodies, baddies, mysogny, love, lust, murder and rivalry and Verdi’s score traverses and reflects all elements beautifully (in this production realised by the wonderfully talented orchestra, conducted by Patrick Lange). The most recognisable in this opera (and there is always satisfyingly at least one) is La donna e mobile: translation, Woman is fickle (yes, yes – problematic but the Duke is indeed problematic. Sounds familiar, that).
There is much to embrace and love. And I defy you not to leave humming fickle women.
As I type, there is a further performance taking place this evening at Lowry and if my form of rhetoric reached you in a place that has lead you to want to put my claims to the test, I recommend taking a trip to this link where you can find all the additional details including timings and tickets: Opera North: Rigoletto | Lowry
And if you’re one of the 3500 first-timers to this wonderful world, drop me a line and let me know how it was for you
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