Rigoletto

With its 16th release—a 2008 production of Rigoletto from the Teatro Regio di Parma—the Tutto Verdi series presents one of the composer's most popular works. Utterly traditional, this mounting features period sets and costumes, along with staging by Stefano Vizioli that avoids innovation for innovation's sake. Massimo Zanetti conducts the company's orchestra and chorus in an idiomatic and secure reading of Verdi's familiar score, which boasts a stream of well-known melodies. Veteran Leo Nucci is sometimes a bit gruff vocally as the hunchback jester who seeks revenge after his daughter, Gilda, is wronged by the lascivious nobleman he serves, but Nucci's long experience in the role pays off dramatically. His work is nicely complemented by that of two young artists—Francesco Demuro, who offers a rather small but sweet and clear tenor as the Duke of Mantova, and Nino Machaidze, who brings a strong, vivid soprano to the infatuated Gilda. Overall, this is an eminently reliable and occasionally inspired performance of one of the world's best-loved operas, and while rival productions may have superior elements (such as the 1996 Covent Garden staging and the 2001 Arena Di Verona mounting, both reviewed in VL-11/02), this one is definitely solid. Presented in DTS 5.1 (DTS-HD 5.1 on the Blu-ray release) and PCM stereo, extras include an introduction to the opera. Recommended. (F. Swietek)