Chailly conducts Verdi's Rigoletto – starring Luciano Pavarotti

Luciano Pavarotti stars as the Duke of Mantua in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's lavish film version of Verdi’s Rigoletto – filmed in historic locations in Parma, Mantua and Sabbioneta. The Italian tenor is irresistible in one of his signature roles, as the philandering Duke who eventually alights on the beautiful Gilda (Edita Grubarová), the secret daughter of court jester Rigoletto, powerfully portrayed by Swedish baritone Ingvar Wixell. Verdi's dark tragedy of 1851– for many his first true masterpiece – is presented here in uniquely atmospheric style, with the orchestral accompaniment from Riccardo Chailly and the Wiener Philharmoniker providing a perfect complement to Ponnelle's high-intensity retelling of the drama.

Soloists: 

Luciano Pavarotti (Tenor), Edita Gruberová (Soprano), Ingvar Wixell (Baritone), Ferruccio Furlanetto (Bass), Victoria Vergara (Mezzo-Soprano), Fedora Barbieri (Mezzo-Soprano), Roland Bracht (Bass), Kathleen Kuhlmann (Mezzo-Soprano)

Ensembles: 

Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor, Wiener Philharmoniker

Conductor: 

Riccardo Chailly