by InTrieste
The Fondazione Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi di Trieste will present a new staging of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto as part of its 2024–2025 opera and ballet season, with performances scheduled for May 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25.
Conducted by Maestro Daniel Oren and directed by Vivien Hewitt, the production features baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat—hailed as one of today’s leading interpreters of the title role—alongside a double cast that includes Enkeleda Kamani, Sabina Puértolas, Galeano Salas, and Iván Ayón-Rivas. The opera, based on the critical edition published by E. F. Kalmus & Co. in New York, will also be staged at the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine on May 30 and 31.
Oren, a longtime collaborator of the Trieste opera house and one of the foremost interpreters of the romantic repertoire, returns to the podium to lead the orchestra and chorus of the Fondazione Teatro Verdi. His presence marks a significant draw for audiences and performers alike, lending gravitas to this complex and emotionally charged score.
Mongolian baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat, widely recognized as one of today’s definitive interpreters of the title role following his acclaimed debut at La Scala, takes center stage for four performances (May 16, 18, 23, and 25). South Korean baritone Youngjun Park will alternate in the role on May 17 and 24. The role of Gilda will be sung by Enkeleda Kamani and Sabina Puértolas, while the Duke of Mantua will be interpreted by Galeano Salas and Iván Ayón-Rivas, sharing the performances across the run.
Other cast members include mezzo-soprano Martina Belli as Maddalena, bass Carlo Striuli as Sparafucile, and Gabriele Sagona as the Count of Monterone. The chorus is prepared by Paolo Longo.
This staging marks the fourth iteration of Rigoletto produced in Trieste, and draws from the 2022 production, significantly revised for this season. Director Vivien Hewitt, who has previously directed the opera at Genoa’s Teatro Carlo Felice, returns with a vision that is both textually respectful and interpretively nuanced.
The production, which is licensed through E. F. Kalmus & Co. in New York, will also travel to the Teatro Nuovo Giovanni da Udine for two additional performances on May 30 and 31, expanding its reach beyond Trieste.
As one of Verdi’s most enduring works, Rigoletto remains a touchstone for both audiences and performers. With this revival, the Trieste opera house reaffirms its place as a key player on Italy’s operatic stage—balancing tradition with artistic renewal.
