Michael Kessler as a vengeful comedian: Verdi’s opera “Rigoletto” as a true crime format

The opera “Rigoletto” is considered the first masterpiece of the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). It tells the story of the eponymous court jester, who, on behalf of the Duke of Mantova speaks badly about other courtiers. When the Duke woos Rigoletto's one true love, his daughter Gilda, Rigoletto decides to have him killed. But by an unfortunate coincidence, Gilda dies instead. 173 years after its premiere at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Story now from ARD Transferring culture into the present.

“The Rigo Case” (from 25. September in the ARD Mediathek and on ardkultur.de) prepared the opera as a true crime format: Rigo Triboulet (Michael Kessler) is a controversial social media comedian. When his beloved daughter Gilda (Lea Zoe Voss) one morning dead in the bed of Rigo's manager Mantova (Anton Rubtsov) is found, the interest of reporter Franziska Helmholz (Victoria Ngotsé). Together with her colleague Roman (Denis “Marshall” Ölmez) she wants to find out the background of the crime. To do this they watch articles from a tabloid magazine about the case and question Rigos Companion (played by the “Bachelor” among others) Niko Griesert and Deichkind musicians Sascha Reimann aka Ferris MC).

Opera meets contemporary trends

“With this project, ARD “Culture is that it is possible to present 'Old Masters' in a modern guise and to offer a profound interpretation of a classic material, while at the same time honoring the original,” says Kristian Costa-Zahn, Program Director and Head of Content at ARD Culture, the intention behind “The Rigo Case”. In fact, the short film directed by Matthias Bollwerk (script: Floris Asche) by Social Media known Trends and at the same time criticizes overly sensationalist Media coverage. Extracts from Verdi’s opera can be heard again and again in the background.

“The Rigo Case” is not the first approach of ARD Culture, High culture To make it accessible to a broader and younger audience: Only in June told the Miniserie “For the Drama” a fictional Love story against the background of the real rehearsals for “Die Fledermaus” at the Bavarian State Opera. Fur Autumn Another project is planned for 2024.