The Audience reacts to Rigoletto
Tuesday, 3 December, 2024
Critic and audience reactions to Verdi's Rigoletto.
Rigoletto is showing at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from 1-7 December 2024.
“Soraya Mafi (...) is the operatic performance of the year” - The Arts Desk - David Nice ★★★★
“Chioldi rises perfectly to the demands of Rigoletto's fury and hubris” - The Arts Desk - David Nice ★★★★
“a true ringing tenor di grazia (..) in the ideal shape of Azeri tenor Bekhzod Davronov” - The Arts Desk - David Nice ★★★★
“The Act Three Quartet is surely the lushest ever, given the total star quality of Niamh O'Sullivan as a commanding Maddalena to add to the lustrous line-up” - The Arts Desk - David Nice ★★★★
Read the full review from The Arts Desk here.
“we can believe the hype, as she (Mafi) sings with a beautiful tone and precision” - Irish Examiner - Alan O’Riordan ★★★★
“Chioldi’s voice becomes a powerful embodiment of fatherly love (...) creating a satisfying depth of characterization” - Irish Examiner - Alan O’Riordan ★★★★
Read the full review from The Irish Examiner here.
“Breathtaking vocal performances of the principal cast” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“Chavaz (...) injects his production with a frenetic energy that never loses its entertainment value” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“The choreography, crafted by Nicole Morel, is a whirlwind of movement, injecting a sense of urgency and emotional intensity that complements the drama unfolding onstage” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“The staging creates a timeless, dreamlike world, where past and present collide in a seamless blend” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“Baritone Michael Chioldi made for a terrifically engaging Rigoletto” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“(Mafi) Possessing a voice of angelic purity, she unfurled the gossamer threads of her arias with grace and delicacy, her soprano silkily seductive and there was an effortless beauty as she reached up to those scarily high top notes” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“tenor Bekhzod Davronov made for an excellent Duke of Mantua (...) he possesses a clear, bright voice with a laser hot vibrato” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“Julian Close made for a convincing Sparafucile” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
“Maddalena was sung with great panache by Niamh O’Sullivan” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★
Read the full review from Bachtrack here.
“Excellent singing” - The Irish Times - Michael Dungan ★★★
“soprano Soraya Mafi exceeds (...) in beauty of voice as she scales with incredible comfort and sweetness Verdi’s unforgiving vocal high-wire act” - The Irish Times - Michael Dungan ★★★
“American baritone Michael Chioldi (...) with a beautiful voice – direct, smooth and expressively flexible – is a stage presence that spans a very wide range of nuance” - The Irish Times - Michael Dungan ★★★
Read the full review from The Irish Times here.
“vocally breathtaking” - The Arts Review - Chris O'Rourke ★★★
“vocally impressive Chioldi and a blindingly brilliant Mafi” - The Arts Review - Chris O'Rourke ★★★
Read the full review from The Arts Review here.
“Michael Chioldi sang the title role of Rigoletto with a powerful performance” - No More Workhorse - Gearoid O’Byrne
“She has a stunningly beautiful and lyrical voice with great precision and a wonderful sense of movement and presence onstage” - No More Workhorse - Gearoid O’Byrne
“Bass Julian Close played the wicked assassin Sparafucile with appropriate menace” - No More Workhorse - Gearoid O’Byrne