ACT I: In a magnificent hall of his palace, the libertine Duke of Mantua boasts to his courtiers of his many conquests ('Questa o quella per me pari sono'). The Duke has seen a mysterious young woman in church and is determined to pursue her. He turns his attentions to Countess Ceprano, before Rigoletto, the Duke's hunchbacked jester, enters to mock her unfortunate husband. Marullo tells the courtiers that Rigoletto has been seen with a mistress and Count Ceprano plots to punish the hated jester. The revelry is interrupted when Monterone, an elderly nobleman, enters to denounce the Duke for seducing his daughter. Ridiculed by Rigoletto and placed under arrest, Monterone lays a solemn curse on both the Duke and his jester. On his way home that night, Rigoletto dwells on Monterone's curse. He is stopped by Sparafucile, a professional assassin, who offers his services. After a lengthy conversation ('Quel vecchio maledivami') Rigoletto sends him away and reaches his house, where he is greeted by his daughter Gilda. Unknown to the world at large, Rigoletto is a widower, who, all too familiar with the depraved ways of the court, keeps his daughter hidden in strict seclusion. He reminisces of his late wife and then warns the governess, Giovanna, to guard his daughter and not to let anyone into the house. As they are speaking, the Duke creeps into the courtyard and is astonished to learn that the woman he saw in the church is Rigoletto's daughter. Once Rigoletto has gone inside, the Duke comes forward and passionately declares his love for Gilda, telling her that he is a poor student named Gualtier Maldè. At the sound of footsteps in the street he bids Gilda a hasty farewell, leaving her alone to muse on her lover's name ('Caro nome'). The footsteps are those of the courtiers, who ask Rigoletto to help them abduct Ceprano's wife, who lives across the way. They trick the jester into allowing himself to be blindfolded and he unwittingly helps them ransack his own house and carry off Gilda. Hearing her cries in the distance, Rigoletto rips off the blindfold and rushes into the house, discovering only Gilda's scarf. He blames Monterone's curse. ACT II: In his palace, the Duke is concerned about the disappearance of Gilda; returning to her house shortly after their parting he had found it deserted ('Ella mi fu rapita' - 'Parmi veder le lagrime'). The courtiers enter and tell the Duke of their night's exploits: that they duped Rigoletto, abducted his 'mistress,' and that she is now in the Duke's bedchamber. The Duke joyfully rushes off to enjoy this latest conquest ('Possente amor mi chiama'). Rigoletto enters, searching anxiously for Gilda. The courtiers block his way and are astonished to learn the girl is not his mistress but his daughter ('Cortigiani, vil razza'). Gilda appears, burning with shame. Rigoletto drives away the courtiers and weeps as he hears of her courtship and abduction ('Tutte le festa al tempio'). Monterone is escorted through the room on his way to prison and Rigoletto vows to avenge the nobleman and his curse. ACT III: Rigoletto brings Gilda to Sparafucile's run-down inn on the outskirts of town. They watch as the Duke flirts with Sparafucile's sister Maddalena and sings of women's fickleness ('La donna è mobile'). Rigoletto sends his daughter away and then pays Sparafucile to murder the Duke. They make arrangements for Rigoletto to return at midnight to throw the Duke's body in the river. With a storm raging outside, Maddalena tries to persuade Sparafucile to spare the Duke's life. He agrees that if someone else comes to the inn before Rigoletto's return that he will kill them instead. Overhearing this conversation, Gilda resolves to sacrifice herself for her lover and, with a quiet prayer ('Se pria ch'abbia il mezzo la notte toccato'), enters the inn. As the storm subsides, Rigoletto returns to claim the Duke's body and gloats over the sack Sparafucile gives him. He is about to throw it in the river when he hears the voice of the Duke singing in the distance. Horrified, he tears open the sack to find Gilda, close to death. As she dies she asks forgiveness from her father ("V'ho ingannato! Colpevole fui') and Rigoletto recalls Monterone's curse one last time as the curtain falls.
ACT I:
In a magnificent hall of his palace, the libertine Duke of Mantua boasts to his courtiers of his many conquests ('Questa o quella per me pari sono'). The Duke has seen a mysterious young woman in church and is determined to pursue her. He turns his attentions to Countess Ceprano, before Rigoletto, the Duke's hunchbacked jester, enters to mock her unfortunate husband. Marullo tells the courtiers that Rigoletto has been seen with a mistress and Count Ceprano plots to punish the hated jester. The revelry is interrupted when Monterone, an elderly nobleman, enters to denounce the Duke for seducing his daughter. Ridiculed by Rigoletto and placed under arrest, Monterone lays a solemn curse on both the Duke and his jester.
On his way home that night, Rigoletto dwells on Monterone's curse. He is stopped by Sparafucile, a professional assassin, who offers his services. After a lengthy conversation ('Quel vecchio maledivami') Rigoletto sends him away and reaches his house, where he is greeted by his daughter Gilda. Unknown to the world at large, Rigoletto is a widower, who, all too familiar with the depraved ways of the court, keeps his daughter hidden in strict seclusion. He reminisces of his late wife and then warns the governess, Giovanna, to guard his daughter and not to let anyone into the house. As they are speaking, the Duke creeps into the courtyard and is astonished to learn that the woman he saw in the church is Rigoletto's daughter. Once Rigoletto has gone inside, the Duke comes forward and passionately declares his love for Gilda, telling her that he is a poor student named Gualtier Maldè. At the sound of footsteps in the street he bids Gilda a hasty farewell, leaving her alone to muse on her lover's name ('Caro nome'). The footsteps are those of the courtiers, who ask Rigoletto to help them abduct Ceprano's wife, who lives across the way. They trick the jester into allowing himself to be blindfolded and he unwittingly helps them ransack his own house and carry off Gilda. Hearing her cries in the distance, Rigoletto rips off the blindfold and rushes into the house, discovering only Gilda's scarf. He blames Monterone's curse.
ACT II:
In his palace, the Duke is concerned about the disappearance of Gilda; returning to her house shortly after their parting he had found it deserted ('Ella mi fu rapita' - 'Parmi veder le lagrime'). The courtiers enter and tell the Duke of their night's exploits: that they duped Rigoletto, abducted his 'mistress,' and that she is now in the Duke's bedchamber. The Duke joyfully rushes off to enjoy this latest conquest ('Possente amor mi chiama'). Rigoletto enters, searching anxiously for Gilda. The courtiers block his way and are astonished to learn the girl is not his mistress but his daughter ('Cortigiani, vil razza'). Gilda appears, burning with shame. Rigoletto drives away the courtiers and weeps as he hears of her courtship and abduction ('Tutte le festa al tempio'). Monterone is escorted through the room on his way to prison and Rigoletto vows to avenge the nobleman and his curse.
ACT III:
Rigoletto brings Gilda to Sparafucile's run-down inn on the outskirts of town. They watch as the Duke flirts with Sparafucile's sister Maddalena and sings of women's fickleness ('La donna è mobile'). Rigoletto sends his daughter away and then pays Sparafucile to murder the Duke. They make arrangements for Rigoletto to return at midnight to throw the Duke's body in the river. With a storm raging outside, Maddalena tries to persuade Sparafucile to spare the Duke's life. He agrees that if someone else comes to the inn before Rigoletto's return that he will kill them instead. Overhearing this conversation, Gilda resolves to sacrifice herself for her lover and, with a quiet prayer ('Se pria ch'abbia il mezzo la notte toccato'), enters the inn. As the storm subsides, Rigoletto returns to claim the Duke's body and gloats over the sack Sparafucile gives him. He is about to throw it in the river when he hears the voice of the Duke singing in the distance. Horrified, he tears open the sack to find Gilda, close to death. As she dies she asks forgiveness from her father ("V'ho ingannato! Colpevole fui') and Rigoletto recalls Monterone's curse one last time as the curtain falls.
