“Rigoletto” is an opera by Giuseppe Verdi based on Victor Hugo’s drama “Le Roi s’amuse”. The plot revolves around the court jester Rigoletto, who serves at the court of the Duke of Mantua. The Duke is a notorious womanizer who abuses his power to seduce women. Rigoletto makes enemies by mocking the Duke’s victims, including Count Monterone, whose daughter was dishonored. Monterone curses Rigoletto, which deeply disturbs the latter.

Rigoletto has a daughter, Gilda, whom he keeps hidden from the eyes of the world to protect her from the Duke’s corrupting influence. However, Gilda has seen the Duke in a church and has fallen in love with him, not knowing his true identity. The Duke, posing as a poor student, has won Gilda’s affections. When Gilda and the Duke meet in secret, Rigoletto plans to kill the Duke to protect his daughter.

Rigoletto hires the assassin Sparafucile to kill the Duke. Sparafucile’s sister, Maddalena, is sent to trap the Duke. When Maddalena seduces the Duke, she takes pity on her and persuades Sparafucile to kill another man if anyone comes to the inn by midnight. Gilda, who was sent away by her father in men’s clothing, hears of the plan and sacrifices herself to save the Duke.

Rigoletto returns to dispose of the Duke’s body. But when he opens the sack, he discovers his dying daughter. Gilda confesses her love for the Duke and dies in her father’s arms. Rigoletto realizes that Monterone’s curse has been fulfilled and despairs at his fate. The opera ends with Rigoletto mourning his daughter and overcome by the inexorable power of fate.