Rigoletto

Listen: Synopsis for Rigoletto

• ACT I

  During a boisterous party, the licentious Duke of Mantua woos the Countess Ceprano. She is flattered but cautious -her husband is present. Count Ceprano is furious when Rigoletto mocks him for cuckoldry, swearing vengeance on the jester.  The threats are reinforced by the older Count Monterone who, railing against the Duke for seducing his daughter, curses both the Duke for his licentiousness, and Rigoletto for laughing at another’s pain.

  Later that evening, Rigoletto meets the assassin Sparafucile on the street. Rigoletto spurns his services, but realizes that Sparafucile is his alter ego: one kills with a sword, the other with words.

  Rigoletto returns home to his daughter, Gilda, where he is protecting her innocence from the debauched world outside. He  warns the nurse to guard Gilda carefully while he goes to investigate a noise outside. The Duke, disguised as the student Gaultier Maldè, enters and is astonished to discover the girl he has seen in church is Rigoletto’s daughter. He and Gilda declare their love before he leaves.  Gilda rhapsodizes on the name of her beloved , while outside the courtiers gather to kidnap the woman they believe is Rigoletto’s mistress. Rigoletto finds the courtiers near his house, but they fool him into thinking they have come to abduct Countess Ceprano next door. Too late, Rigoletto discovers he has been tricked.

• ACT II

  The Duke laments Gilda’s disappearance, before learning that the courtiers have kidnapped her. Rigoletto enters and rages at his tormentors, but is reduced to begging them for pity. Gilda bursts in and explains to Rigoletto how she met the Duke, whom she had taken to be a student, at church. Rigoletto comforts her, and Gilda begs mercy for the Duke.

• ACT III

  Rigoletto has brought Gilda to Sparafucile’s inn to show her the Duke’s true nature. The Duke, incognito, flirts with Sparafucile’s sister, Maddalena. Gilda laments his faithlessness but she still loves him. Rigoletto sends her home and hires Sparafucile to kill the Duke. Maddalena urges her brother to spare the Duke, and he agrees, provided another victim can be found as a substitute. Gilda returns and presents herself as the victim to save the Duke. Rigoletto returns to collect what he thinks will be the Duke’s body. Hearing the Duke’s voice in the distance, he opens the bag and finds his dying daughter. Monterone’s curse has been fulfilled.