New version of "Rigoletto"

(story to be published in tomorrow’s issue, March 17)

The opera “Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi premiered in March 1852, in Venice. Three years later, “Rigoletto” was performed for the first time in Romania, when an Italian group of opera singers, led by Ludovic Wiest, decided to include Bucharest in the tour itinerary. The first Romanian production of Verdi’s famous opera was staged in March 1925. The distribution comprised big names of the Romanian opera at that time. Mircea Lazar performed the part of the Duke of Mantua, Grigore Teodorescu played Rigoletto, while Margareta Mataxa was Gilda. They were guided by Italian conductor Egizio Massini. Since then, “Rigoletto” has remained in the permanent repertoire of the Romanian Opera, and the lead part was attributed, throughout the years, to famous opera singers: Jean Atanasiu, Aurel Costescu-Duca, Petre atefanescu-Goanga and Mihail Arnautu. Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi composed many operas, such as “Nabucodonosor,” “Ernani,” “Joan of Arc,” “Macbeth,” “La Traviata” and “La forza del destino.” Tomorrow night, at the opera, Rigoletto will be played by Vasile Martinoiu, one of the most appreciated Romanian opera singers, whose career also includes tours abroad (The United States, Great Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, etc.). He performed over forty roles, among which the Count of Luna (Verdi’s “Troubadour”), Scarpia (in “Tosca” by G. Puccini), Amonastro (in “Aida” by Verdi). Maestro Martinoiu is also an exceptional teacher, having discovered several talented young singers. Two of his disciples, Mihaela Stanciu and Dan Dumitrescu, will perform by the maestro’s side. The other characters featured in Verdi’s opera will be played by Stelian Negoescu and Mihaela Agachi. The show is directed by Jean Ranzescu and the orchestra is conducted by Constantin Petrovici.