Verdi: Rigoletto (The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD) -- May 21st, 2013

[McCrutchy]

Verdi: Rigoletto (The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD) Blu-ray PRE-ORDER

Deutsche Grammophon will release The Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD version of Verdi's tragic Rigoletto (2013), starring Željko Lučić, Diana Damrau and Piotr Beczała, on Blu-ray on May 21st, 2013.

I am somewhat surprised that this is getting a Blu-ray release so quickly, and something like, say, the new Maria Stuarda, is not, but this Rigoletto is a particularly colorful production, thanks to a decision to update the setting to 1960's Las Vegas. Therefore, the background is filled with neon, and the cast are dressed as Rat Pack types, and I imagine these elements are what caused DGG and the Met to want to bring this out both so quickly, and on Blu-ray. I enjoyed Željko Lučić as Rigoletto very, very much, but Piotr Beczała just steals the show as the Duke.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I am somewhat surprised that this is getting a Blu-ray release so quickly, and something like, say, the new Maria Stuarda, is not, but this Rigoletto is a particularly colorful production, thanks to a decision to update the setting to 1960's Las Vegas. Therefore, the background is filled with neon, and the cast are dressed as Rat Pack types, and I imagine these elements are what caused DGG and the Met to want to bring this out both so quickly, and on Blu-ray.

Jonathan Miller already did his own Gangster Version years ago, and that seems to have become the template for everyone else's updating.

(Darn, thought this was going to be the "live movie" that showed on PBS a year ago, but this one looks linteresting. I've just started getting hooked on opera and ballet in HD, as the really-there factor for stage concerts is an improvement over the DVD.)