The Atlanta Opera to Present RIGOLETTO

The Atlanta Opera celebrates its 35th year of live productions with Giuseppe Verdi's tragic masterpiece, Rigoletto. This new, visually stimulating production is a co-production of Boston Lyric Opera, The Atlanta Opera, and Opera Omaha and was originally directed by The Atlanta Opera's General & Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun.

Not seen on The Atlanta Opera stage since 2000, Rigoletto will be presented on February 28 and March 3, 6 and 8 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Single tickets, ranging from $26 to $137, plus convenience and venue fees, are on sale now and can be purchased online at atlantaopera.org or by calling 404-881-8885. Season tickets are still available as well, offering patrons the best seats at the best prices.

The Boston Globe hailed the production as "delivering the kind of energetic performance ... that had audiences rising swiftly to its feet." Opera News, reviewing the Omaha mounting, said the production "let loose with vibrant, contrasting visual and musical colors."

A Verdi favorite, Rigoletto is set in a rich and decadent Renaissance Italy and features some of opera's most famous arias including "La Donna e Mobile" and "Caro Nome."

Todd Thomas makes his Atlanta Opera debut as the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto, who turns his mind to revenge when he cannot protect the person he most loves, his innocent daughter Gilda, from the person he most loathes. Recognized by opera companies and critics alike as one of the true Verdi baritones performing today, Thomas is one of America's most sought after artists.

Gilda, the jester's daughter who has passion stirring in her young heart, will be sung by rising American soprano Nadine Sierra in her first Atlanta Opera appearance. The youngest winner to date of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as well as the Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition, Sierra is already making a name for herself through her performances with top opera companies and symphony orchestras around the world.

As the lascivious Duke of Mantua, always in pursuit of his next romantic conquest, tenor Scott Quinn makes his company debut. Celebrated bass and Atlanta native Morris Robinson will sing the role of the assassin Sparafucile.

The production features sets by internationally acclaimed designer John Conklin and costumes by Vita Tzykun, known in popular culture circles for her production design of Lady Gaga's 2011 Thanksgiving special. Joseph Rescigno, who last conducted The Atlanta Opera Orchestra in La traviata during the 2012-13 season, will conduct.

An opera in three acts, Rigoletto was created by Giuseppe Verdi, with Italian libretto written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. Rigoletto will be sung in Italian with projected English subtitles.

Ticketholders may also attend a free pre-opera talk about Rigoletto. Pre-Opera Talks are held one hour prior to each performance inside the John A. Williams Theatre at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre and provide opera attendees insights and background into the opera they are about to see.

Thirty-five years ago, The Atlanta Opera opened its inaugural season at the Fox Theatre on March 14, 1980 with the first of two performances of The Seagull, by Thomas Pasatieri to an English libretto by Kenward Elmslie and based on Anton Chekhov's 1896 play of the same name. Other shows in the inaugural season included La traviata and a recital by legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes.

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