The Many Sounds of Rigoletto; the Music behind the Music May 17, 2019
Posted by Collectio Musicorum at 11:48 AM
In 1850, Giuseppe Verdi began composing an opera
based on a contentious play that was banned in France. Victor Hugo’s Le Roi S’amuse featured a licentious ruler who did whatever he
wanted, including seducing women and killing their husbands, and who did so
without worrying about any consequences.
But
Verdi’s opera was not complete fiction.
The title character in Rigoletto was based on a real jester, Nicolas Ferrial, called Triboulet, who lived from 1479
to 1536. The sumptuous Renaissance
setting of the opera influenced the composer, as did music from that time
period.
Collectio
Musicorum (“Collection of Music”) presents highlights from Verdi’s opera
alongside music of earlier composers, including Tromboncino, Monteverdi,
Attaingnant, Sermisy, Gonzaga, Jannequin, Rossi, and others who are less well
known, including the single surviving piece by the mysterious French composer
Abel.
The
performance takes place on Friday, May 17th at 8 PM at Christ and
St. Stephen’s Church, 120 W 69th St, New York, NY 10023. Admission is free. The church is accessible--there are no stairs between the performance space and the street.
This is a portrait of Triboulet, born Nicolas Ferrial, created c. 1550 by Jean Clouet.
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