Rigoletto

Over the last years I have shown you many opera houses in Europe. But actually we never visited one inside. To make up for it I will take you today to the famous "Rigoletto" by Guiseppe Verdi, as shown in the National Opera in Warsaw.

You might remember the building itself since we have seen it two years ago. During the night, the former Town Hall building is nicely illuminated.

On the top of the National Opera House you will rediscover the quadriga above the main entrance.

First, we need to buy the tickets.

Then, we move to the cloak room.

The red carpet will lead us to the balcony.

The spectacle starts at 7 PM so it is just about time that we take our places.

The room is vast, with many levels of balconies and galleries.

The curtain is still closed.

Just below the scene you can see the orchestra.

The best-known air from "Rigoletto" is "La donna è mobile". The most famous performance is probably this by Luciano Pavarotti.

But do not be fooled by the light tone of this air. "Rigoletto" is a sad story. The main character, Rigoletto, is a court jester, whose job is to amuse the Duke of Mantua.

http://www.teatrwielki.pl/repertuar/opera/kalendarium/rigoletto-1.html

The Duke likes to have fun and his favourite hobby is seducing women, both married and innocent, leaving the fathers and the husbands helpless faced to his ducal power. 

http://www.teatrwielki.pl/repertuar/opera/kalendarium/rigoletto-1.html

When he seduces the daughter of Rigoletto the latter hires an assassin. Unfortunately, Rigoletto's daughter Gilda fells in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save her beloved, despite the fact that she knows he was unfaithful to her. 

http://www.teatrwielki.pl/repertuar/opera/kalendarium/rigoletto-1.html

Since the action of "Rigoletto" is taking place in various locations, there is a need to change the scenography a number of times. During the breaks it is possible to visit the buffet. In a fancy place the food is fancy as well.

I particularly liked the cake.

One of the greatest things about operas are the amazing costumes. We are lucky because we will be able to visit an exhibition of the greatest designs of costumes starring in the spectacles of the National Opera in Warsaw. They fully deserve the name of haute couture.

The first dress that I will show you comes of course from Rigoletto, this is the dress of one of the noble women seduced by the Duke of Mantua.

The respective scene is shown on a screen next to the dress.

This amazing dress is from la Traviata, it is a design by Gosia Baczyńska.

The costumes for Madame Butterfly designed by Magdalena Tesławska and Paweł Grabarczyk.

And here Onegin as seen by Joanna Klimas.

I hope that you have enjoyed this date with high culture. I must say that I liked it a lot! And I just cannot get "La donna è mobile" out of my head ...