At the Duke’s infamous parties, one man’s words light the darkness with a sinister glitter. Among the glamorous girls and greasy gangsters, Rigoletto serves his master with sharp wits and averted eyes.
From the moment he wrote it, Verdi knew he had a hit on his hands. The story has everything: royalty, loyalty, devotion, lust and revenge.
And the music? The music is sensational, so full of hummable tunes that Verdi demanded complete secrecy from his premiere cast. The tenor was forbidden from even whistling the catchy ‘La donna è mobile’ outside of rehearsals.
The morning after Rigoletto’s triumphant première, that melody rang out in the streets: a hit for ever after.
Elijah Moshinsky’s much-loved production of Rigoletto returns to the Sydney Opera House stage, complete with its glamorous La Dolce Vita-inspired sets and costumes and scene-stealing Fiat 500. The revolving dolls-house style set gives cinematic detail to each scene.
We’ve assembled a brilliant cast led by Italian conductor Sesto Quatrini in his Opera Australia debut. Dalibor Jenis reprises his acclaimed performance as the tortured jester at the heart of Verdi’s masterpiece, with Kang Wang as the Duke and rising star Gemma Nha as the jester’s daughter.
2hr 45min. Incl. 1 interval.
21st July, 2026
21st August, 2026
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GETTING TO THE VENUE:
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT: The Sydney Opera House is a six-minute walk to Circular Quay which is regularly served by public buses, trains and ferries to Circular Quay.
BY BICYCLE: Bicycle parking is located beneath the Monumental Steps.
BY CAR: Wilson Parking owns and operates the public Sydney Opera House Car Park, which is located at 2 Macquarie Street (Northern end). The car park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and has undercover access to the Sydney Opera House Lower Concourse.
Further information of getting to the Sydney Opera House can be found here.
“Impressive and not to be missed. ★★★★” - Arts Hub
Conductor: Sesto Quatrini
Director: Elijah Moshinsky
Set & Costume Designer: Michael Yeargan
Lighting Designer: Robert Bryan
Revival Director: Warwick Doddrell
CAST
Rigoletto: Dalibor Jenis
Duke of Mantua: Kang Wang
Gilda: Gemma Nha
Monterone: Gennadi Dubinsky
Sparafucile: David Parkin
Maddalena: Sian Sharp
Marullo: Simon Meadows
Borsa: Virgilio Marino
Ceprano: Jonathan Alley
Giovanna: Dominica Matthews
Countess Ceprano: Jennifer Black
Page: Jennifer Bonner
Usher: Malcolm Ede
Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus
Rigoletto runs for 2hr 45min. Incl. 1 interval.
Rigoletto is at Sydney's Joan Sutherland Theatre | Sydney Opera House, which is located at Bennelong Point, Sydney, 2000.
Rigoletto tickets start at $84.
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