San Diego Opera has pulled together a cast that impresses even the most astute opera aficionados. Rigoletto is classic grand opera at its best. The breathtaking sets and costuming are nothing less than magnificent. Whether this is your first or fifteenth visit, your ears will perk up as the Civic Theatre is filled with the finest-tuned operatic voices masterfully singing the now-familiar songs that put Giuseppe Verdi on the operatic map.

The third opera of the season, Rigoletto, which runs through Wednesday, April 8, at the Civic Theatre in Downtown, was last seen in San Diego in 2002. This popular tragedy transports audience members to the Italian Renaissance with its traditional staging.

Making exciting debuts are Slovakian soprano L’ubica Vargicová as Gilda and Albanian tenor Giuseppe Gipali as the Duke of Mantua. Returning to San Diego is Georgian baritone Lado Ataneli in the title role, Kirstin Chávez as Maddalena, Armenian bass Arutjun Kotchinian as Sparafucile, American bass-baritone Scott Sikon as Count Monterone, Taiwanese tenor Joesph Hu as Borsa, American baritone Malcolm MacKenzie as Marullo, American mezzo-soprano Martha Jane Howe as Giovanna, American soprano Crystal Jarrell as Countess Ceprano/Page and American baritone Robert Taylor as Count Ceprano. Edoardo Müller, fresh from conducting the season opener, returns to lead the orchestra. Former San Francisco Opera General Director Lotfi Mansouri stages the production.

Performed in Italian with English translations above the stage, Verdi’s tragic melodrama Rigoletto begins in the court of the lecherous Duke of Mantua who spends his time seducing the wives of courtiers. Rigoletto, the Duke’s court jester, is a mean-spirited and unscrupulous man and adds insult to injury by mocking these courtiers. Rigoletto has a daughter, Gilda, whom he lives for and loves dearly. After mocking Count Monterone, whose daughter has been a victim of the Duke, Monterone places a curse on Rigoletto. Matters become even more intriguing when Rigoletto discovers the Duke has seduced Gilda and hires an assassin to kill his own master. As the curse on Rigoletto begins to unfold, he becomes helpless to protect the one thing in the world he loves and learns too late that it was he himself who put into motion the acts that result in his daughter’s murder. With the instantly recognizable aria “La donna è mobile” and “Caro nome,” Rigoletto is a hit parade of operatic tunes.

An extra special treat for audiences occurs throughout April, as the curtain lowers and rises again during the set change between Acts I and II. Opera-goers have the rare opportunity to see the amazing work that goes on behind the scenes, as workers move around in choreographed chaos to build a small city on stage in less than 20 minutes.

Those who wish to take advantage of this rare glimpse into San Diego Opera are welcomed to stay seated, while others who prefer to keep the mystery behind the curtain enjoy a glass of wine while they gaze at the costuming worn by subscribers.

Three-opera subscriptions for the 2009 International Season are still available and start at $87. Weekday Super Savings Subscription Packages are also available, which offer even more savings. Rush tickets for $20, subject to availability, are available 90 minutes prior to performances. General admission single tickets are also available. All tickets and subscription packages can be purchased by calling 619-533-7000 or online at www.sdopera.com.

Staff/Running crew:

34 stagehands (carpenters, electricians, lav tech, prop men, fly men)

23 wardrobe (wardrobe mistress, dressers, stitchers, launderers)

11 wig and make-up crew

4 artistic team (conductor, director, designers, choreographer)

12 music and production staff (incl. asst. designers, titles, stage mgrs, etc.)

Cast:

13 principals;

30 chorus (all male);

16 supers (9 female, 7 male);

10 dancers (5 male, 5 female)

Orchestra: 54 (33 strings, 8 w winds, 10 brass, timpani, percussion, plus librarian)

Total Budget: $1,777,926 (for artists, orchestra, crews, building scenery and costumes, everything else)