San Diego Opera will present Giuseppe Verdi's celebrated opera Rigoletto at the San Diego Civic Theatre, located at 1100 Third Avenue in downtown San Diego, California, with three performances scheduled for October 23–25, 2026.
The production opens Friday, October 23, at 7:30 p.m., followed by another evening performance Saturday, October 24, at 7:30 p.m. The final performance takes place Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m.
First performed in Venice in 1851, Rigoletto tells a powerful story of love, betrayal, vengeance, and tragedy. The central character is a court jester serving the Duke of Mantua, whose reckless behavior and mistreatment of women eventually lead to devastating consequences.
When Count Monterone places a curse on Rigoletto, the jester's efforts to protect his daughter Gilda become entangled in a dangerous sequence of deception and sacrifice.
The opera features some of Verdi's most recognizable compositions, including "La donna è mobile," "Caro nome," and the quartet "Bella figlia dell'amore."
Baritone Michael Chioldi performs the title role, alongside Madison Leonard as Gilda and José Simerilla Romero as the Duke of Mantua. Yves Abel conducts the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, with stage direction by Christopher Mattaliano.
The production is performed in Italian, with English and Spanish translations projected above the stage. Running time is approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, including one intermission.
Free pre-performance talks are scheduled before all three performances, offering audiences additional insight into Verdi's masterpiece.
