Entertainment

Oh, what a night at the Opera House as Rigoletto comes to town

<strong>THE JESTER:</strong>&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Helvetica; ">Sebastian Catana brings the pathos and force of one of opera's greatest characters to the stage of the Grand Opera House in Opera Northern Ireland's production of Verdi's Rigoletto</span>&nbsp;
THE JESTER: Sebastian Catana brings the pathos and force of one of opera's greatest characters to the stage of the Grand Opera House in Opera Northern Ireland's production of Verdi's RigolettoTHE JESTER: Sebastian Catana brings the pathos and force of one of opera's greatest characters to the stage of the Grand Opera House in Opera Northern Ireland's production of Verdi's Rigoletto 

Oh what a night…

No, the Jersey Boys have left the Grand Opera House stage but Sunday’s Charity Gala performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto was one of the best nights I’ve had at the famous Great Victoria Street venue and for a whole variety of reasons.

After just coming back from a week in shorts and t-shirts during a week-long hundred-kilometre walk in the Basque Country, it was time to cover the suntan in a tuxedo and mix with the great and the good at a performance in aid of Inspire and the NI Hospice.

And it must be said that Walter Sutcliffe’s Northern Ireland Opera production more than matched the occasion.

Rigoletto is an opera of conflicting themes and conflicted characters but it’s also one of Verdi’s most foot-tapping creations with music that flows one way and then another. It also has some of the best known arias in opera with the hugely popular Questa o quella, La donna è mobile and Bella figlia dell' amore but, of course, there is a darkness and forbodeing below the surface. 

The Duke of Mantua is a philanderer (would he be described as a Harvey Weinstein today?) detested by his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto but he in turn is despised by all the courtiers he has insulted at the behest of the Duke.

Rigoletto understandably keeps his daughter Gilda well-hidden in order to protect her innocence. He is a public man with a private secret. 

However, when Rigoletto is cursed by Monterone whose own daughter has been seduced by the Duke, the old man lays a curse on the hunchback and so begins a series of events that can only have one end.

The psychological ebb and flosc is matched by the wonderfully atmospheric sets which in turn throw up light and shadow, gaiety and terror as well as recreating typical scenes from your typical Belfast bar in the 1960s.

The singing throughout was glorious. 

Davide Giusti was superb in the tenor role of the Duke, a libertine but there was enough in his portrayal of the character to suggest he wasn’t completely at ease with his life-style.

Nadine Koutcher, Cardiff Singer of the World, as Gilda was affecting as the sheltered woman/child and her Caro Nome was superb while her duet with baritone Sebastian Catana as Rigoletto was yet another highlight of the night.

Catana had the voice, the presence and the acting ability to show us the many sides of one of opera’s most complex character.

An important note is that this production was a mixture of top-rate internationally-renowned singers and a Belfast-based chorus and and all the dramatic and musical nuance was aided and abetted by members of the Ulster Orchestra. From my seat in the Circle, it was great to observe the passion on the stage matched by that in the orchestra pit.  

To add extra exoticism to the production, it was staged in co-operation with the Opera Nacional de Chile.

An unforgettable night.

Tickets for Rigoletto are available for Thursday 4th and Saturday 6th October.