Verdi: Rigoletto (2017 / Gran Teatre Del Liceu)

Verdi’s Rigoletto, one of his most successful operas, is based on Victor Hugo’s play Le Roi s’amuse, which for Verdi was the greatest drama of the present day. The “spectacular production” (La Vanguardia) at the Gran Teatre del Liceu “under excellent musical direction by Riccardo Frizza”, “the dramatic depth of Carlos Álvarez and the triumphant debut of Javier Camarena as Duke of Mantua” (El Periodico) made it a “top-class Rigoletto” (bachtrack.com). “A production with this simplicity requires outstanding direction, which is achieved here” (Seen and Heard International) and is crowned by the colourful costumes of the Oscar-winning Sandy Powell.