Vancouver Opera launches its new season with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, a tragic tale of love, sacrifice, and vengeance. Directed by Glynis Leyshon, this production transports the story to Victorian London, highlighting the decadence of the upper class and their callous disregard for the poor.
In the title role, baritone Michael Chioldi delivers a commanding performance, capturing Rigoletto’s rough exterior as the janitor/court jester of a gentlemen’s club, then revealing the raw, heart-breaking vulnerability of a grieving father.
Making her company debut, soprano Sarah Dufresne soars as Gilda. Her luminous rendition of “Caro nome” is breathtakingly beautiful – delicate yet emotionally charged. Dufresne embodies both the angelic innocence and the quiet defiance of a daughter who ignores her father’s warnings as she falls for the Duke’s perceived attention.
Tenor Yongzhao Yu brings charisma and nuance to the Duke of Mantua. His lively performance of “La donna è mobile” fills with wit and charm, yet beneath the buoyant melody lies a character steeped in moral emptiness.
Another highlight is the quartet featuring Emma Parkinson (Maddalena), Chioldi, Dufresne, and Yu. Each character expresses their individual emotions with distinct voices while coming together beautifully in Verdi’s intricate harmonies.
Under the baton of Maestro Jacques Lacombe, the orchestra sustains the tension and grandeur of Verdi’s score without ever overshadowing the vocals.
A strong and superb opener to Vancouver Opera’s season, Rigoletto sets a high bar for the productions to come. We look forward to the upcoming Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte next February and Puccini’s La Bohème next April/May.
More information on the 2025/2026 Vancouver Opera Season: https://www.vancouveropera.ca/
Photo credit: Emily Cooper