The opera “Rigoletto” premiered 175 years ago; on October 29, a new production arrives at the Coliseu Porto Ageas with tickets ranging from €15 to €45

In nine days, the stage at the Coliseu Porto Ageas will take on a new tone. On October 29, at 9:00 p.m., a new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto”—one of the most intense operas in the repertoire—will premiere, with tickets ranging from €15 to €45.

The opera is set in the dissolute court of the Duke of Mantua, where the jester Rigoletto laughs, insults, and humiliates as part of his job. Behind the mask of mockery lives a father who shields his daughter, Gilda, from the world with an almost desperate tenderness. It is this possessive and absolute love that makes him vulnerable: when the court decides to take revenge, it strikes at what is most precious to him.

The libretto by Francesco Maria Piave is based on the play by Victor Hugo. Verdi’s music ranges from the elegant cynicism of “La donna è mobile” to the silent devastation of the final act. 175 years after its premiere, the story continues to hold up a mirror to society: the dynamics of power, inequality between classes, and an untouchable ruler who abuses his privilege.

This production is a world premiere, commissioned by the Coliseu from Ópera na Academia e na Cidade. José Ferreira Lobo serves as music director, and Henrique Silveira Oliveira directs the stage production.

For the director, Verdi is “a composer of remarkable theatrical intuition,” with extraordinary dramatic power. “The melody is perfect, and above all, Verdi is masterful in his writing for voices, whether soloists or choruses,” he emphasizes. In his interpretation, audiences are unlikely to remain indifferent, because emotion, alongside reason, remains one of the foundations of the opera’s beauty.

Tickets and discounts: Tickets are on sale at Coliseu Porto Ageas, Ticketline, and the usual outlets, as well as on the event’s official website. There is a 20% discount for students, seniors over 65, families (of three or more), Friends of the Coliseu, and Porto Card holders.

Useful Information

📍Where: Rua de Passos Manuel 137

⏰When: October 29, at 9:00 p.m.

🎟️Tickets: range from €15 to €45 and are available at Coliseu Porto Ageas, Ticketline, and the usual outlets; there is a 20% discount for students, seniors over 65, families (of three or more), Friends of the Coliseu, and Porto Card holders.