Tears of a Clown

A mainstay of the opera canon, Verdi's Rigoletto is a thrilling experience that first set pulses racing and tongues wagging when it debuted in Venice in 1851. The gritty production overcame its initial problems with the censors of its day to become one of the world's most widely performed operas, beloved for its memorable tunes and electrifying revenge plot. Octavio Cardenas directs Santa Barbara Opera's brilliant production of this masterpiece, conducted by Kostis Protopapas!

What Is The Story?

Irresistible melodies from arias like "Caro Nome" and "La Donna e Mobile" punctuate the ultimate tale of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice. The opera follows the misfortunes of its titular character, a clown in the court of the Duke of Mantua, who is extremely skilled at humiliating courtiers, much to the amusement of the Duke. Yet, when his sharp tongue goes too far and the lustful Duke seduces his daughter Gilda, a spiral of devastation threatens to consume them all in a fiery and heart-stopping finale.