This tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto's beautiful daughter Gilda. The opera's original title, La maledizione (The Curse), refers to the curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter had been seduced by the Duke with Rigoletto's encouragement. The curse comes to fruition when Gilda likewise falls in love with the Duke and eventually sacrifices her life to save him from the assassins hired by her father.
Tito Gobbi
as Rigoletto
Marcella Govoni
as Gilda
Lina Pagliughi
as Gilda (voice)
Mario Filippeschi
as Duke of Mantua
Gianna Maria Canale
as Maddalena
Giulio Neri
as Sparafucile
Giuseppe Varni
as Count of Ceprano
Marcello Giorda
as Monterone
Roberto Bruni
as Borsa
Virgilio Gottardi
as Marcello
