Don’t miss Verdi’s Rigoletto October 27 & 29 at The Grand Opera House (4 S. Poplar St. Wilmington, DE). Verdi’s masterful Rigoletto is an opera in three acts that premiered in Venice on March 11, 1851. It was based on a controversial Victor Hugo piece known as “Le Roi s’amuse” which translates to “The King enjoys himself.”

The story of the jester Rigoletto, his beloved daughter Gilda, and the treacherous Duke of Mantua was nearly banned by censors upon its debut, but it went on to become one of Verdi’s most championed works. In particular, pieces like “Caro nome,” “La donna é mobile,” and “Bella figlia dell’ amore” propelled opera forward during Verdi’s lifetime and challenged and inspired the audience of yesterday and today.