Nadia Krasteva

Rigoletto, court jester to the libertine Duke of Mantua, is cursed by the father of one of the Duke’s victims for his irreverent laughter. When the Duke seduces Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda, it seems the curse is taking effect… Rigoletto arranges to have the Duke assassinated. But Gilda still loves the womanizing Duke and sacrifices herself in his place. Rigoletto eagerly uncovers the corpse only to find instead his fatally wounded daughter, who dies in his arms.

Rigoletto, court jester to the libertine Duke of Mantua, is cursed by the father of one of the Duke’s victims for his irreverent laughter. When the Duke seduces Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda, it seems the curse is taking effect… Rigoletto arranges to have the Duke assassinated. But Gilda still loves the womanizing Duke and sacrifices herself in his place. Rigoletto eagerly uncovers the corpse only to find instead his fatally wounded daughter, who dies in his arms.

La Forza del Destino es una de las óperas más irregulares de Giuseppe Verdi. En ella hay páginas excelsas, entre las mejores que jamás escribiera, junto con otras de menor calidad. Entre las primeras hay que destacar los espléndidos dúos de tenor y barítono, el aria de Leonora y la mejor de todas ellas para quien esto escribe: La vergine degli angeli, que siempre estaría entre las composiciones que yo me llevaría a una isla desierta. Entre las mediocres están las que Verdi compuso para las escenas en las que aparecen Preziosilla y Melitone. No me atrevo a decir qué haría yo con esta ópera para así evitar levantar las iras de mis amigos más puristas.

A legend of mermaids, mere mortals, and sylvan glades. Be transported to a mystical world of water sprites, witches, and wood nymphs. In exchange for love, Rusalka will relinquish not only her mermaid magic, but also her voice.

Rusalka is not a happily tragic fairy tale. Rusalka’s lake is a dark, damp cellar, where she is imprisoned with her sisters by her abusive father. But once she finally escapes, she is thrown mute and alone into an equally brutal world where she is utterly unequipped to survive, and he increasingly looks like a protector.

Live performance from the Vienna State Opera, 6 May 2010.