RIGOLETTO

Ever wanted to give opera a go but didn’t have the cash or penguin suit? Good news! Opera Australia and CinemaLive have brought this timeless medium to the silver screen and first off is Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto; a tale about a jester who must keep a womanising Duke amused, even if it’s at the cost of his daughter’s modesty. The production was inspired by Fellini’s La Dolce Vita and has as much drama; tragedy; and complexity as a Shakespearean play, although thankfully it comes with subtitles. If you’re a bit of an opera virgin like I was, you’ll enjoy the introduction, summary and interviews conducted by Barbie (whoops, I mean Sami Lukis, who does a good job at playing host). (ES)

***1/2