Rigoletto at Festival Theatre

Each summer, the Teatro Antico in Taormina is home to the Taormina Arts festival. Since its construction in 7th century BC, audiences have feasted their eyes on the views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna that provide a dramatic backdrop for this stunning arena stage.

Rigoletto is one of the most popular Italian operas of all time.

The opera tells the story of the court jester Rigoletto and his beautiful daughter Gilda. It's a tale full of love, intrigue and passion and is filled with some of Verdi's most famous melodies. One of the most popular arias of all time, “La donna e’ mobile,” is so catchy that prior to Rigoletto’s premiere in Venice of 1851, Verdi swore the tenor to secrecy, forbidding him to sing or whistle it anywhere except in his private rehearsals. Considered to be one of Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest accomplishments, Rigoletto continues to enthrall audiences worldwide.