«Rigoletto,» the first opera in Giuseppe Verdi’s famous «great triad» (which also includes «La Traviata» and «Il Trovatore»), marks the transition to the composer’s mature period. The libretto is based on Victor Hugo’s scandalous play «The King Amuses Himself,» which was banned after its very first performance. This was not the first time Verdi turned his attention to Hugo’s dramaturgy.
In 2024, a new version of «Rigoletto» was presented at the Bolshoi Theatre by maestro Valery Gergiev and Giancarlo Del Monaco, a world‑renowned director and a member of a famous opera dynasty. The Spanish theatre designer Antonio Romero, who worked in tandem with Mr. Del Monaco, served as the set designer — he is the author of bold, non‑trivial solutions and the creator of complex «architectural» spaces. The costumes, inspired by Italian haute couture, were designed by Gabriela Salaverri, who, as a costume designer, collaborates with leading drama theatres in her home country, Spain, as well as with musical theatres both in Spain and abroad.
