Bregenz Festival: Rigoletto

ACT I
As a jester at the Duke of Mantua’s court, I support my employer in his female conquests. He likes to host exuberant
parties where he keeps an eye out for the ladies. As the latest object of his desire, he has chosen Countess Ceprano, of whom
he tells his courtier Borsa. I make several suggestions to the Duke
about different ways in which we could keep her husband at bay.
Making sure that I do not notice anything, the courtier Marullo tells
his colleagues that I have a lover, which nobody can imagine. As a
revenge for my jokes, they decide to kidnap my alleged lover. This
highly charged atmosphere is interrupted when Count Monterone
bursts in, demanding revenge because the Duke has seduced his
daughter. I ridicule him, for which he curses both the Duke and me.
After the celebration has ended, a dark figure approaches
me. A man named Sparafucile offers me his services as a contract
killer. I am interested in his conditions, but currently have no need
for him. Back at home, my daughter Gilda asks me probing questions about her roots. I tell her about her mother’s death, but refuse
to say anything about myself. I am very afraid that somebody might
harm her, allowing her to escape supervision by her governess Giovanna only in order to go to church. No sooner have I left her, than
the Duke secretly sneaks up to her, having followed her on her way
back from church. He courts her, pretending to be a poor student.
Once she is alone again, Gilda begins to gush over him.
I return and encounter Borsa and Marullo. Ceprano is also
there, but I do not notice him. The two courtiers ask me to help
them kidnap Ceprano’s wife. They ask me to hold the ladder and
wear a mask, as they do. I am in. Suddenly, I hear my daughter’s
screams for help. When I take off the mask, I realise that I have
helped them kidnap my own daughter. So the curse is already
haunting me.

ACT II
The Duke did not find my daughter at home and complains
that she has been stolen away from him. His joy is all the
greater when his courtiers hand over the abducted Gilda to
him. In my desperate search for her, I have to endure the courtier’s
jeers. Of course, they do not admit what they have done. However,
they do seem very surprised when I tell them that my daughter has
disappeared. Suddenly, she approaches me and confesses that the
Duke has seduced her. I swear to avenge her dishonour, especially
after once again hearing Monterone’s voice, lamenting that the
Duke continues to live happily despite his curse.

ACT III
I want to show my daughter how the Duke usually behaves
towards women and take her to Sparafucile’s tavern. There, the
Duke orders both Sparafucile’s sister and drink. He then goes
on to sing about the fickleness of women, without which, however, he
would not be happy. I let Gilda watch as the Duke courts Sparafucile’s
sister Maddalena. Gilda cannot believe that the Duke talks to Maddalena the same way he speaks to her. I send Gilda away so that she can set off to Verona dressed as a man and promise to follow the next day.
I then contract Sparafucile to murder the Duke. He promises
to hand me the dead man in a sack at midnight. As a thunderstorm
approaches, I leave the scene. Meanwhile, the Duke retires to one of
the upper rooms to sleep. Maddalena persuades her brother not to
kill the Duke, but rather the next man to appear at the tavern. Gilda
has returned in men’s clothes and has overheard the conversation.
She knocks and is killed by Sparafucile. At midnight, I receive the
bag with the body. Just as I am about to throw it into the water,
I hear the Duke’s voice. I become suspicious and anxious and open
the sack, where I discover my own daughter. She bids me farewell
and dies. The curse has hit me.