Rigoletto: The Royal Opera House (Downes) [DVD] [2013]

I had this version once before and lost it. Now I have it again and I just sat and cried as I watched it. David McVicar, this is a beauty! Thankyou!.I've seen quite a few versions of Rigoletto but this one is so rough and tough and 'real' and sexist and difficult (in terms of the lives these people had to live) that I found it almost unbearable to watch because of the raw emotion and the passion and pain in both the interpretation and rendition the cast gave of these characters, and in their beautiful soaring evocative voices. Marcelo Alvarez, as the duke, oh so BAD, so callous, so lascivious and so brilliant. Handsome too! Christine Schäefer, such a sweet and touching Gilda, who wants love and romance and excitement and . . . . something more than a prison to live in and jailor for a father. And that father! Paulo Gavanelli, what a Rigoletto, Oh but POOR Rigoletto, so broken by the loss of his beloved wife, and so horrible and cruel, creating a future that he knows can only ever backfire on him, yet trapped into being that way in order to survive and look after his daughter.Verdi is the genius of geniuses and this is one of his absolutely best operas. Brilliantly directed by David McVicar, not that I know anything about direction or singing or acting, except that I have not liked another version anywhere near as much as I have liked this one. In fact I liked it so much that I got myself a pair of wireless headphones so I could watch it full blast, and enjoy the passion in the music and the singing, which along with the quality of the acting really made me cry. Thankyou, thankyou.

This production, the singing, sound quality and the staging place this DVD at the very highest level of operatic performance. I have always thought that Titto Gobbi was the definitive Rigoletto with his dark, dramatic and angry interpretation. Paolo Gavanelli is his equal in attack and drama. Christine Schaefer is a wonderful Gilda and the equal of Callas in this performance. The other principals are also outstanding.The opening staging may be controversial, with bare breasts and brief nudity, but it is justified in emphasizing the dissolute and depraved atmosphere of the court that can allow the ruin of a courtier's daughter and the kidnapping of Rigoletto's supposed mistress. It is a dark and unpleasant land where at night one can be approached by an assassin offering to kill the person of your choice for 20 scudos. The staging underscores the story-line and the lyrics with dark, run-down sets.The sound quality was outstanding. I played digital 5.1 through my amplifier and thought the quality of sound the equal of any CD.This is the best staging of an opera I have ever seen and I doubt anyone will be disappointed.

Classy version of one of the great operas. It has real bite and brings out the violence and horror of the story along with some very fine performances. Christine Schafer looks and sounds the part of Gilda, and Paolo gavonello in the title role combines the qualities of tende father and dastardly jester with aplomb. Loved it. The filming is first rate and the minimal scenery works to perfection.

Great opera, we attended this actual performance (our first opera) during the filming back in 2001, a little hesitant to watch an opera on DVD. The production is amazing and really comes to life!! Arrived in time and as described. Wonderful!!

This is a favourite opera of mine so I was more than happy to have this wonderful recording.The packaging was superb.

What a performance !!!Gavanelli is a Rigoletto that I don't think can be beaten.---totally believable performance Top quality Royal Opera production

excellent

Brilliant