Rigoletto

November 12, 8:00 pm

Michigan Theater

Verdi: Rigoletto (excerpts)
Debussy: La mer, trois esquisses symphoniques pour orchestra

You are in for a treat at our November concert which features a special concert opera performance of Verdi’s classic musical drama, Rigoletto. Rediscover Verdi, considered the greatest composer of lyrical melody, with our performance of gems like “Questa o quella,” “Caro nome,” and the quintessential tenor aria “La donna e mobile.” Rigoletto tells the story of an evil duke, his eponymous jester, and Gilda, the jester’s beautiful daughter. Narration will guide you through the plot full of twists, turns, revenge, and heartbreak, as Maestro Arie Lipsky and the A²SO bring the tragic tale to life with the help of vocalists Sarah Hibbard, Vale Rideout, and Thomas Hall. You’ll be singing these tunes for days!

This concert begins with Claude Debussy’s haunting three-part orchestral epic, La mer. Debussy discouraged the public from referring to the piece as a “symphony,” preferring to call it instead a collection of “three symphonic sketches.” Whatever you call it, the music will take you on a sonic, impressionistic journey across the ocean.

Sarah Hibbard is a shimmering soprano whose voice has a resounding quality reminiscent of the golden age of singing. Vale Rideout has garnered critical acclaim for his musical artistry and superb stagecraft throughout the U.S. and Europe. Thomas Hall sings with a resonant and rich baritone.

Sponsored by the Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation