Opera - Rigoletto

GIUSEPPE VERDI

Rigoletto

124:47

An opera in three acts

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

English translation by James Fenton

The English National Opera production

Direced for the stage by Jonathan Miller

Prelude

2:34

Act I

Scene One

'That pretty girl I've been seeing in the city'

1:50

'Duke', Borsa

'If a woman should happen to catch my eye'

2:06

'Duke'

'You're going? That's cruel'

2:03

'Duke', 'Countess', Rigoletto, Chorus

'It's happened! It's happened!'

2:48

Marullo, Chorus, 'Duke', Rigoletto, Ceprano, Borsa, Courtiers

'I demand to see him'

4:52

Monterone, 'Duke', Rigoletto, Borsa, Marullo, Ceprano, Courtiers

Scene Two

'The old man laid his curse on me!'

5:10

Rigoletto, Sparafucile

'We are equals'

3:52

Rigoletto

'Gilda!'

2:03

Rigoletto, Gilda

'Ah, do not demand of one so sad'

5:03

Rigoletto, Gilda, Giovanna

'Oh, dear Giovanna, guard my daughter'

5:46

Rigoletto, Gilda, Giovanna, 'Duke'

'Giovanna, I should have told him'

3:12

Gilda, Giovanna, 'Duke'

'Love is the source of life, love is our sunlight'

5:27

'Duke', Gilda, Ceprano, Borsa, Giovanna

'Gualtier Maldè, you were the first to love me . . .

6:20

Dearest name of my first love'

Gilda, Borsa, Ceprano, Chorus, Marullo

'I have returned. But why?'

2:19

Rigoletto, Borsa, Ceprano, Marullo

'Softly, softly we move in to get her'

3:01

All, Gilda, Chorus, Rigoletto

Act II

'Somebody came and stole her but when?'

2:30

'Duke'

'Somewhere I see you weeping'

3:05

'Duke', All

'We went to look for her last night together'

2:00

All, 'Duke'

'The power of love is calling'

3:13

'Duke', All

'Poor little Rigoletto . . .'

3:35

Marullo, Rigoletto, Chorus, Ceprano, Secretary, Borsa

'Filthy rabble, you liars, you cowards'

4:32

Rigoletto

'My father!'

1:29

Gilda, Rigoletto, All

'Speak now. They've left us'

7:21

Rigoletto, Gilda

'Ive one thing to do here before I am finished'

1:13

Rigoletto, Gilda, Henchman, Monterone

'Old man, you're mistaken'

2:12

Rigoletto, Gilda

Act III

'You love him?'

2:24

Rigoletto, Gilda, 'Duke', Sparafucile

'Women abandon us'

3:04

'Duke', Sparafucile, Rigoletto

'When first I came to talk to you'

1:33

'Duke', Gilda, Maddalena, Rigoletto

'If you want a faithful lover'

4:40

'Duke', Maddalena, Gilda, Rigoletto

'Eighty dollars you were asking'

2:22

Rigoletto, Sparafucile, 'Duke', Maddalena

'He's such a young man, handsome and friendly'

2:33

Maddalena, 'Duke', Sparafucile

'I cannot think clearly'

6:22

Gilda, Maddalena, Sparafucile

'Now for my vengeance, now the moment is ready'

2:53

Rigoletto, Sparafucile

'He's there, murdered, oh yes'

2:21

Rigoletto, 'Duke'

'But who can be inside here?'

2:02

Rigoletto, Gilda

'It's all my fault'

1:29

Gilda, Rigoletto

'Ah, soon, in Heaven'

3:22

Gilda, Rigoletto

John Rawnsley baritone - Rigoletto

Helen Field soprano - Gilda

Arthur Davies tenor - The 'Duke'

John Tomlinson bass - Sparafucile

Jean Rigby mezzo-soprano - Maddalena

Norman Bailey bass-baritone - Monterone

Alan Opie baritone - Marullo

Mark Elder

28-30 July, 1, 6, 7, 14, 28 August and 4 September 1983