The piece was inspired by Victor Hugo’s 1832 play, with the title, translated from French, The King Amuses Himself. Hugo’s play was banned after its first performance. So, to get past European censors, Verdi chose Venice for the opening of Rigoletto. Verdi explained why he looked to Hugo’s play for inspiration by saying, “The subject is grand, immense, and there is a character that is one of the greatest creations that the theater can boast of, in any country and in all history.” That character was Francis the First, who is described by historians as the gluttonous, immoral, misogynist King of France.
A poster for the premiere of Verdi's opera "Rigoletto" at La Fenice, in Venice. Image source: Alamy
The opera "Rigoletto" premiered on this day in 1851. Giuseppe Verdi wrote the music and Francesco Maria Piave wrote the lyrics.
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