Verdi Rigoletto at the ROH 7.4.12

[Barbirollians]

I am glad to read that my high opinion of the singing is shared by others on here. I also agree about JEG's conducting - very fine indeed.

[Prommer]

Siurina gave us a wonderful diminuendo on her top note in the closing bars/breaths that was quite stunning.

Platanias will be unbeatable in this role within five years.

Grigolo created a great deal of swooning in my part of the house, I can tell you. The box office assistant had told me breathlessly when I collected my tickets that although they were to the side, 'you'll have a great view of Vittorio'....

[David-G]

The box office assistant had told me breathlessly when I collected my tickets that although they were to the side, 'you'll have a great view of Vittorio'....

Prommer, which side were you? I am going to be over to the extreme right on Saturday. Just wondering what sort of view I will have...

[Barbirollians]

Prommer, which side were you? I am going to be over to the extreme right on Saturday. Just wondering what sort of view I will have...

It will be OK for the singers especially for Crowe and Platanias but you will not be best placed for the opening nude scene ! Don't worry you won't miss anything !

[Prommer]

I was on the left... But you will be fine either way. It is a cumbersome and unattractive set but most things happen at mid-stage.

[Stanfordian]

In the ROH's rather lacklustre season this revival stands out. The production may not be to all tastes but it suits the venality of the Duke of Mantua and his court and I thought the singing, playing and conducting by JEG were all outstanding.

Platanias's deep rich baritone made one feel sympathetic for the eponymous hero for once, Grigolo is ideal casting for the young,handsome but monstrous Duke and sang much better I felt here than in the recent Faust and Lucy Crowe a singer who I rate very highly in classical and baroque repertoire was a revelation as Gilda - wonderfully accurate and secure but such stylish singing. A touchingly innocent Caro Nome and superb in her death scene and stepping in at short notice to sing her first ever Gilda she deserved her thundering ovation

Highly recommended .

I attended the ROH production of Rigoletto on Tuesday evening at my local Odeon cinema. It was advertised as being live from the ROH. I must say that I really enjoyed the production. The David McVicar production was well directed by Leah Hauman. It was gripping and often exciting. However, I felt a local professional production of Rigoletto that I saw at the weekend made a better job of the providing real tension in the final scene with the body of Gilda lying dying in an old sack.

Greek baritone Dimitri Platanias was quite superb in the role of Rigoletto and stole the show. He certainly deserves to be better known. Singing well Ekaterina Siurina was acceptable as Gilda although I thought she projected a touch weakly and I wasn’t too persuaded by her acting. Seeming so full of himself Vittorio Grigolo was also adequate as the Duke of Mantua. Somehow his acting didn’t convince me as much as I expected. Grigolo seemed rather too nice as the philandering and untrustworthy Duke. I think Jonas Kaufmann or Roberta Alagna are better actors and would have made a more convincingly nasty Duke of Mantua.

But overall it was very enjoyable.

[Chris Newman]

Sheltering from the rain whilst shopping today I bumped into friends whom I had not noticed in our Odeon. They are still bowled over by Dimitri Platanias as Rigoletto.