The internationally renowned Verdi baritone Anthony Michaels-Moore returns to English National Opera to sing Rigoletto for the first time in the UK having previously sung the role at Théâtre de la Monnaie, Brussels. He was the first British winner of the Luciano Pavarotti Competition in 1985 and has since become a familiar figure in opera houses around the world including Teatro alla Scala, Milan and the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. He last appeared with ENO in the title role of Eugene Onegin in the 1999/2000 Season.

This highly acclaimed and enduringly popular staging of Verdi’s Rigoletto, directed by Jonathan Miller was created in 1982 and is revived for the 12th time. Taking as his inspiration films like The Godfather, this production relocates the original Renaissance court setting to a 1950s mafia-controlled Little Italy, New York, providing a startling backdrop to a tale of lust, deceit, kidnap and vengeance. Stephen Lord, Music Director of the Opera Theatre of St Louis and formally Music Director of Boston Lyric Opera, makes his UK opera debut with this production. He was recently chosen by Opera News as one of the “25 Most Powerful Names in US Opera”.

Set and costume design is by Patrick Robertson and Rosemary Vercoe with lighting by Robert Bryan and choreography by Tommy Shaw. The translation is provided by James Fenton.

Anthony Michaels-Moore is joined by Michael Fabiano making his UK and role debut as the Duke of Mantua and who also makes his Metropolitan Opera, New York debut in Verdi’s Stiffelio opposite José Cura in January 2010. Making her ENO debut as Gilda is soprano Katherine Whyte. A recent graduate of the Juilliard Opera Centre, she has performed on opera and concert stages across her native Canada and the United States.

The cast also includes Brindley Sherratt Sparafucile; Ian Patterson Monterone; Daniel Hoadley Marullo; Peter Van Hulle Borsa and ENO Young Singer James Gower as Ceprano.

Rigoletto opens at the London Coliseum on 21 September for 9 performances – 21 & 26 September and 2, 7, 10, 15, 17 (early start 6.30pm), 20 (signed) & 23 October at 7.30pm

Original production supported by English National Opera Trust

Pre-performance talk by Sarah Lenton, Opera and Theatre Historian: 7 October, 5.30pm, London Coliseum, £4

Box Office: 0871 911 0200 or online www.eno.org