AMORE OPERA PRESENTS VERDI'S RIGOLETTO MAY 20-29, 2016 THE SHEEN CENTER'S LORETTO THEATRE, 18 BLEECKER STREET, NY, NY

New York, N.Y. — Amore Opera closes the 2015-2016 season with Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto. This tale of innocence lost and vengeance gone tragically awry will be presented in full production with full orchestra conducted by Douglas Martin, with stage direction by Amore Opera’s Artistic Director Nathan Hull. Amore Opera’s production of Rigoletto features several talented casts. The part of Rigoletto is performed by baritones Thomas Cannon, Mark Cotton and Robert Garner; Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda is sung by sopranos Katrin Bulke, Jessica Sandidge, Amy Palomo and Michelle Pretto; and the part of the roguish Duke is portrayed by tenors Aaron Blankfield, Lindell Carter, Kevin Courtmenache, and José Heredia. Rigoletto will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Eight (8) full performances and two (2) narrated “Opera-In Brief” performances for children and families are scheduled from May 20 through 29 at the Sheen Center, 18 Bleecker Street, New York City.

Amore Opera’s “Opera-in-Brief” version of “Rigoletto” will be given on Saturday afternoons May 21st and 28th at 2:30. These special presentations are geared towards children and family, and feature both narration and a fully-staged, 90-minute version of the opera with piano accompaniment. Our “Opera-in-Brief” series is part of our effort to bring opera to the next generation of opera fans. Taken together with our frequent “All-Kids” opera programs, these “Opera-in-Brief” performances represent a major commitment to educating our children.

About AmoreOpera

Now in its seventh season, the Amore Opera is continuing in its mission to entertain, educate and nurture music appreciation in youth, seniors and community members through affordable live performances of classical and overlooked operas, and provide a venue for a diversity of singers and musicians to perform in fully staged and orchestrated productions.

About Rigoletto

Rigoletto, composed by Giuseppe Verdi with libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, is a tragic tale of a deformed court jester who wants nothing more than to protect his virtuous daughter from a licentious duke who seduces her. Verdi’s famous masterwork leads us on a chilling whirlwind of revenge that has entranced audiences since its first performance.

Premiered in 1851, Giuseppe Verdi‘s Rigoletto is based on Victor Hugo‘s Le roi s’amuse (The King amuses himself) which was immediately forbidden following its world premiere in 1832 in Paris. Verdi was mindful that this choice of topic for a new opera was destined to be censured, but completed his composition with hardly an alternation to Victor Hugo’s original drama with the exception of changing the names and the locale.

Rigoletto’s tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester, Rigoletto, and Rigoletto's beautiful daughter, Gilda. The opera's original title, La Maledizione (The Curse), refers to the curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a nobleman whose daughter had been seduced by the Duke with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda likewise falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.

Rigoletto Full Performances

Friday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 22, 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 26, 7:30 p.m.

Friday May 27, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 29, 2:30 p.m.

Rigoletto “Opera-In Brief” Performances for Children and Families

May 21, 2:30 p.m.

May 28, 2:30 p.m.

Admission

Tickets are $45.00 for Adults and $35.00 for Students and Seniors. Tickets for the Opera-in-Briefs are only $25.00. Tickets can be purchased directly through the Amore Opera Website at www.amoreopera.org or by calling 886-811-4111.

The Sheen Center

The Sheen Center’s beautifully renovated Loreto Theater is located at 18 Bleecker Street, NY, NY at the corner of Elizabeth and Bleecker. There is convenient paid parking in the neighborhood, and the Broadway/Lafayette subway stop for the B-D-F-M and 6 trains is less than a 2-minute walk.