In 2026, Shanghai Opera House and the Royal Opera House, London will join hands once again. Following their highly acclaimed co-productions of Manon Lescaut and Madama Butterfly, the two institutions will jointly present Rigoletto—Verdi’s towering masterpiece from his middle creative period.

 

Adapted from Victor Hugo’s play Le roi s’amuse, Verdi, with his genius artistry, has forged an immortal monument of seamless integration of music and drama, telling a profound story of curse, paternal love and redemption.

This production is personally directed by Oliver Mears, Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House, London, bringing together the world’s top creative forces. It delves deeply into this tragic masterpiece of human frailty and the irony of fate from a contemporary perspective.

With its iconic musical score, intense emotional conflicts and stunning stage visuals intertwined, this collaboration promises not only a powerful artistic dialogue between top-tier institutions, but also a profound cross-cultural spiritual resonance.

 

 

 

Conductor XU Zhong
Director Oliver Mears
Associate Director / Movement Director Anna Morrissey
Set Designer Simon Lima Holdsworth
Costume Designer Ilona Karas
Lighting Designer Fabiana Piccioli
Coach Andrea Severi

 

Rigoletto George Gagnidze, SUN Li
Gilda Sofia Fomina, ZHANG Meigui
Duke Mantua Ivan Ayon Rivas, YU Haolei
Sparafucile HUANG Junpeng, YU Yang
Maddalena WANG Xiaoxi, WANG Bihua

 

Chorus Shanghai Opera House Chorus
Orchestra Shanghai Opera House Orchestra
Dance Shanghai Opera House Dance Troupe

Co - Produced by Shanghai Opera House&Royal Ballet&Opera