The Ópera of Tenerife will dedicate the three functions of Rigoletto in honor of the tenor Alfredo Kraus, on the twentieth anniversary of his death. This production has the stage direction of Mario Pontiggia and the musical direction of Giuseppe Finzi.

Ópera de Tenerife presents Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, which will be performed next week in the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife with three functions on November 19, 21 and 23. The details of this production were released by the insular director of Cultura del Cabildo, Leopoldo Santos; the artistic director of Auditorio de Tenerife, José Luis Rivero; the stage director, Mario Pontiggia; the musical director, Giuseppe Finzi, and the singers Luis Cansino and Leonor Bonilla, representing the participating cast.

Leopoldo Santos stressed that the proposal made next week Ópera de Tenerife “is valid today”, highlighted the work of all the people who make possible the staging of Rigoletto and considered that “the union of the Tenerife Symphony and Ópera de Tenerife is always a happy collaboration. ”  José Luis Rivero said that “the three functions will be a tribute to the figure of Alfredo Kraus, on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of his death.”

Mario Pontiggia, also artistic director of the Alfredo Kraus Foundation, conveyed the gratitude of the president of this institution for the tribute to the Canarian tenor. “Kraus had a great relationship with this island since the 60s and one of his last activities was a recording with the Tenerife Symphony in 1998,” explained the teacher. “Verdi knew how to capture the concept of Victor Hugo, who speaks of the relationship of a father and daughter who loved him for compassion in a monstrous context,” concluded Pontiggia, responsible for the scenic direction of this Rigoletto.

Rigoletto, Ópera de Tenerife © Miguel Barreto

For his part, Giuseppe Finzi, who debuts with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, considers that this opera “is the most modern and interesting of the Verdi trilogy, which makes a hard criticism of power and vices” and adds that “they are themes current for which Verdi created a wonderful music, almost expressionist ”, analyzed the musical director.

Luis Cansino said that “I will offer my vision of Rigoletto covered by the vision of Finzi”, a role that, he says, “is one of the most wonderful roles for a baritone.” The singer also acknowledged that it is “an immense joy to meet again with someone I love very much, Mario Pontiggia, who gave me my first opportunity in this country to play a first-rate role” and also to work with Leonor Bonilla, “with the I agreed to be a girl and I am very happy with the success she is having in her career.

Leonor Bonilla confesses that “the word gratitude falls short when I come to Tenerife”. Regarding the title of “adoption chicharrera” attributed by José Luis Rivero in this informative act, the soprano explained that “it is a compliment because since I participated in Opera (e) Studio in 2014, coming here is always a pleasure”. Regarding his role as Gilda, he shared the personal satisfaction that his father in fiction is Luis Cansino, whom he considers his father on the scene.

Giuseppe Finzi will be in charge of the musical direction of the production with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, which will feature the vocals of Luis Cansino (baritone); Leonor Bonilla (soprano); Yijie Shi (tenor); Simon Orfila (bass); Guadalupe Barrientos (contralto); Sophie Burns (mezzo-soprano); Aleksandr Utkin (bass); Silvia Zorita (mezzo-soprano); Jorge Franco (tenor); Matteo Mollica (baritone); Gianni Giuga (baritone) and Beatriz de Sousa (soprano).

Rigoletto, Ópera de Tenerife © Miguel Barreto

Rigoletto is a drama in three acts with music by Giuseppe Verdi and libretto in Italian by Francesco Maria Piave, based on the playLe roi s’amuse(The King has fun) by Victor Hugo. In this opera, Verdi reflects all the visceral passions that characterize the nature of man. Until its premiere, on March 11, 1851 at the Teatro de La Fenice in Venice, it was a true ordeal for the composer who sees how it hits the wall of censorship of the authorities of the state of Lombardy-Venice [Austrian Empire], when addressing issues that are too rough in Italian society prior to unification. After some changes that did not distort the character or color of the work, it finally had a triumphant premiere.

The play is the first title of the famous “popular trilogy” by Busseto’s teacher. Like the protagonists of Il trovatore and La traviata,Rigoletto is a social outcast, a hunchback used as a jester in the corrupt Mantua court of the late 16th century, ruled by the beautiful and young Duke of Mantua, a sickly seducer. When his efforts to safeguard his daughter Gilda’s innocence are broken by the Duke’s lust, the jester will try an impossible revenge.

The performances on Tuesday 19, Thursday 21 and Saturday 23 will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio de Tenerife. Tickets for this performance of Ópera de Tenerife can be purchased at the usual channels of Auditorio de Tenerife, at the box office from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday; through www.auditoriodetenerife.com or by phone at 902 317 327.