Norma week 4 - week 3 - week 2 - week 1
Cyrano: week 4 - week 3 - week 2 - week 1
Hansel and Gretel: week 4 - week 3 - week 2 - week 1
Rigoletto: week 4 - week 3 - week 2 - week 1
Summer 2007

Rigoletto - Week Two

Even though Verdi's Rigoletto is a tragedy, Director Robert Driver (left) and Maestro Corrado Rovaris (right) show there's always a little time for laughter during rehearsals.

Director Robert Driver gives some staging notes to soprano Patricia Vigil, who makes her Opera Company debut as the Page.

The laughs continue in this rehearsal with (from left to right) Director Robert Driver, tenor Dominic Armstrong as Borsa, and bass-baritone DeAndre Simmons as Count Ceprano.

Assistant Conductor Laurie Rogers (left) and baritone Dimitrie Lazich (right) quickly go over some notes.

The Duke, tenor Matthew Polenzani, sings the famous aria "La donna è mobile ," which was so popular that Venetians were heard singing it in the streets the day after the opera's premiere in 1851. In the aria, which rejoices in women's fickleness, the Duke gets cozy with Maddelena, mezzo soprano Kirstin Chávez.

Soprano Chen Reiss (left), and baritone Alan Opie (right), take a few moments to discuss one of their scenes as Gilda and Rigoletto.

Rigoletto, baritone Alan Opie, opens the bag and is devastated to find his daughter Gilda, soprano Chen Reiss, who has given her life for her beloved Duke.

Borsa, tenor Dominic Armstrong (left), looks on as Rigoletto, baritone Alan Opie (center), scorns Marullo, baritone Dimitrie Lazich (right).

Sparafucile, bass Julian Rodescu (left), and Rigoletto, baritone Alan Opie (right), meet to plan the Duke's assassination.

Sparafucile, bass Julian Rodescu (left), delivers a sack containing a dead body as proof that he has completely his deadly deed. Little does Rigoletto know that things did not go according to plan and that the assassin's victim was actually his daughter Gilda.

Soprano Chen Reiss, in her Opera Company debut as Gilda, takes the break in rehearsal to peek out from the bag and get some fresh air.

Bass Julian Rodescu returns to the Academy of Music stage as the assassin Sparafucile.

Bass Kirk Eichelberger makes his Opera Company debut as Count Monterone.