The UI Opera Studies Forum [1]will present a pre-opera talk on Verdi’s Rigoletto on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 5:30 p.m. in the University Capitol Centre, Room 2520D. This event is free and open to the public.

Roberta Montemorra Marvin, director of the Opera Studies Forum and editor of the forthcoming The Cambridge Verdi Encyclopedia,  will guide audiences through the story of Rigoletto in preparation for the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD theater transmissions of the production. Rigoletto will be screened at Sycamore Cinema [2] in Iowa City on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11:55 a.m., with an encore screening Wednesday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m.

Director Michael Mayer has placed his new production of Verdi’s tragedy in Las Vegas in 1960.  Piotr Beczala is the womanizing Duke, Željko Lucic is his tragic sidekick, Rigoletto, and Diana Damrau is Rigoletto's daughter, Gilda. For a full synopsis, visit the Metropolitan Opera website [3].

This lecture series is intended to guide audiences to a better understanding of the Metropolitan Opera performances. View the schedule of other upcoming lectures at http://international.uiowa.edu/opera-studies/events [4].

The Opera Studies Forum is part of UI International Programs.

For more information, contact Joan Kjaer at joan-kjaer@uiowa.edu [5] or 319-335-2026.