John Turturro brings cinematic approach to Verdi's Rigoletto at Teatro Regio

John Turturro, known for his roles in Coen brothers and Spike Lee films, made his opera directing debut with Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto at Teatro Regio in Turin in 2019. The production features a dark, dystopian Ancien Régime setting with costumes by Marco Piemontese, sets by Francesco Frigeri, and lighting by Alessandro Carletti. Turturro's cinematic approach reduces operatic convention, emphasizing naturalism and verisimilitude. The opera begins with a homage to Bernardo Bertolucci. The cast includes baritone Carlos Álvarez as Rigoletto, soprano Ruth Iniesta as Gilda, and tenor Stefan Pop as the Duke of Mantua. Conductor Renato Palumbo leads the orchestra. The production uses persistent fog as a metaphor and scenic device, evoking films like Blade Runner and Mad Max. Turturro described his approach as 'humble.' The opera is based on Victor Hugo's 1831 play Le Roi s'amuse, which was censored after a single performance at the Comédie-Française. Verdi and librettist Francesco Maria Piave adapted the story, originally intended to be titled La maledizione. The work is considered a thriller ante litteram, addressing themes of sexual predation, corruption, and revenge.