Opening night of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Rigoletto at San Diego Opera: A Grand Night of Music, Drama, and Spectacle
What a night at the opera!
San Diego Opera’s opening-night performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at the San Diego Civic Theatre was a spectacle on a grand scale. From the magnificent sets to the powerful voices and glorious music, it was an evening to remember. And the experience began long before the curtain rose, with a pre-opera chat explaining the plot of Rigoletto and some history.
There’s something special about going to the opera. The audience dressed for the occasion, with gentlemen in suits and ties and ladies in elegant evening gowns. The atmosphere felt festive, sophisticated, and full of anticipation. It’s a completely different experience from an ordinary night at the theater, and we loved it! Then came the performance. The sets were enormous, the staging dramatic, and the singers’ voices absolutely magnificent. Powerful, melodic, and filled with emotion, they brought Verdi’s tragic story to life.
And let’s not forget the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, whose extraordinary performance made the evening even more memorable. Hearing that beautiful music performed live, accompanying those incredible voices, was a treat in itself.
Opening night of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
La donna è mobile — What Did He Just Sing?
One of the moments I was most looking forward to was hearing the famous aria La donna è mobile. I’ve loved that melody for years, but apparently never paid much attention to the Italian lyrics!
Thanks to the supertitles in both English and Spanish (I actually read faster in Spanish), I finally understood what the Duke was singing. Imagine my surprise when I realized that this gorgeous, familiar melody is accompanied by some rather demeaning observations about women. To think Verdi wrote this opera in 1851 says something about how things haven’t changed that much.
And the irony? The man singing about women’s fickleness is himself a shameless womanizer. Ah, opera!
Suzette Valle attending opening night of Rigoletto at San Diego Opera.
So Much Drama… But That’s Opera!
Rigoletto has everything you’d expect from a great opera: moments of comedy, jealousy, betrayal, heartbreak, and tragedy. So much passion, so much drama… but that’s opera!
My only complaint? The late hour! The performance began close to 8 p.m. and ran approximately two hours and 45 minutes. By the end, I was definitely feeling the hour. But was it worth staying up for? Absolutely!
It’s been many years since my opera-going days in London and Berlin, and this evening reminded me of everything I love about this extraordinary art form.
Bravo, San Diego Opera and San Diego Symphony!
Rigoletto is at the Civic Theater through September 25.
Thank you to San Diego Opera for inviting us to experience opening night of Rigoletto.
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