Opera Omaha Opens ‘Rigoletto’

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October 14th, 2014

Omaha, NE — A Count, a Clown, and a Curse are the key points in a classic opera staged right here in Omaha.

[audio:https://kvnonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/rigoletto-web.mp3]

white1Next weekend Opera Omaha brings to life a classic Verdi stage work: “Rigoletto.” This production’s conductor is Steven White, who says the plot centers on a court fool, his daughter, and a womanizing nobleman.

“Rigoletto, who is a court jester to a rapacious Duke, unfortunately has his own daughter – whom he has taken great pains to protect all of her very young life – taken,” White said. “The Duke takes the daughter. She thinks she’s in love with him, but in any case, this is a tragedy for Rigoletto. He tries to exact revenge upon the Duke. It misfires a bit – it’s just unbelievably tragic.”

“Rigoletto” is extremely popular with audiences. According to Maestro Smith, this is because both the story and the music are very strong and compelling.

“There’s something about middle Verdi that is incredibly exciting form a musical standpoint but also marvelous from a plot standpoint,” White said. “The thing about ‘Rigoletto’ that’s amazing to me is that you have a story that is extremely bizarre in certain ways and macabre in certain ways, but yet you have this music – I don’t think Verdi surpassed it, or anyone surpassed it for sheer beauty, in places.”

White says the audience is going to have the opportunity to hear a performer who has never taken the stage in the United States – until now!

“Making his debut in America is Fabián Veloz,” he said. “Everything that he does is grounded in vocal technique, but at the same time has a dramatic impulse. I think Fabian is going to make a big splash and I think it’s an incredible coup that Opera Omaha is getting this outstanding artist in his American debut.”

If audiences perceive a strong on-stage chemistry, it may be because there is also some strong off-stage chemistry, too!

“My good friends Dinyar Vania and Rachele Gilmore, who were just married recently, they are the Duke and Gilda,” White said.

Opera Omaha’s production of Verdi’s “Rogoletto” will be staged Friday, October 17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 19 at 2 pm. Both performances are at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, and for tickets and more information, you can call (402) 346-4398 or visit www.operaomaha.org.

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