Rigoletto

St Petersburg Opera’s signature production of one of opera’s greatest work comes to Abu Dhabi after its Dubai performances in a version by the celebrated Russian director Yuri Alexandrov. Rigoletto remains one of Verdi’s most enduring masterpieces: a story of love, betrayal, and revenge told through some of the most celebrated music in the operatic repertoire; Alexandrov’s version transforms the jester from the familiar hunchback into a sharp, cunning figure whose torment lies hidden behind his courtly disguise – a haunting portrayal of cruelty, corruption, and vulnerability.

This lavish, costumed spectacle otherwise treats the classic with due reverence. There’s a second performance tomorrow (23 November).