Rigoletto
Synopsis
A Victor Hugo play, haunting and scandalous, provided the inspiration for Verdi’s mid-career masterpiece. A vengeful but misguided court jester strives to save his daughter from a duke’s licentious clutches, but can't part with the feeling that a curse looms over all of his actions. In Rigoletto, the composer introduces several of his most iconic arias and duets—as well as an 11th-hour quartet that counts among the finest moments in opera.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Cornell MacNeil
Rigoletto
Ileana Cotrubas
Gilda
Justino Díaz
Sparafucile
Plácido Domingo
The Duke of Mantua
Isola Jones
Maddelena
Ariel Bybee
Giovanna
John Cheek
Monterone
Philip Booth
Il Conte di Ceprano
Loretta di Franco
La Contessa di Ceprano
James Atherton
Borsa
Robert Goodloe
Marullo
James Levine
Self - Conductor
Alma Jean Smith
A Page
Peter Sliker
Chief Guard
MET Orchestra
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 7, 1977
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Dexter, Kirk Browning
- Screenplay & Story
- Victor Hugo, Francesco Maria Piave
- Original Score
- Giuseppe Verdi
- Original Title
- Rigoletto
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Italian
- Runtime
- 2h 17m
- Production Studios
- Deutsche Grammophon, The Metropolitan Opera
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Dexter, Kirk Browning
Victor Hugo, Francesco Maria Piave
Giuseppe Verdi
Department Leadership Roster
Giuseppe Verdi
Original Music Composer
John Dexter
Director
Francesco Maria Piave
Writer
Kirk Browning
Director
John Dexter
Production Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Rigoletto.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Rigoletto.
list6
agb WIP
Entries that need expanding
Similar Titles to Rigoletto
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.5
9.5
10.0
6.0
7.0
10.0
8.5
10.0
8.0
7.2
More Like Rigoletto
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rigoletto
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Rigoletto about?
A Victor Hugo play, haunting and scandalous, provided the inspiration for Verdi’s mid-career masterpiece. A vengeful but misguided court jester strives to save his daughter from a duke’s licentious clutches, but can't part with the feeling that a curse looms over all of his actions. In Rigoletto, the composer introduces several of his most iconic arias and duets—as well as an 11th-hour quartet that counts among the finest moments in opera.
Who directed Rigoletto?
Rigoletto was directed by John Dexter, Kirk Browning.
Who stars in Rigoletto?
The principal cast of Rigoletto includes Cornell MacNeil, Ileana Cotrubas, Justino Díaz, Plácido Domingo, Isola Jones.
When was Rigoletto released and how long is it?
Rigoletto was released in 1977 with a total runtime of 2h 17m.
Who composed the musical score for Rigoletto?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Rigoletto was composed by Giuseppe Verdi.