46 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2025
On Oct. 10, the Four Seasons Opera Club presents Verdi's
Rigoletto in e Lodge eater, Rigoletto has been part of the
standard repertoire since it's premiere in 1851 (Venice). Rigoletto
tells the story of the licentious, misogynistic Duke of Mantua.
e dramatic art turns around Rigoletto, the misshapen but
witty, intelligent court jester to the Duke and his lovely, protected
daughter, Gilda. Rigoletto has some of the most memorable
music in all of opera, e.g., arias — "Questa o quella?", "La donne
e mobile" and many more. e rst translates to "this one or that
one" and the duke goes on to assert
that it doesn't matter. e latter means
"women are ckle." Our presentation
is from the Met's 1977 production and
features Placido Domingo (at le) as
the evil Duke and Cornell MacNeil as
the unfortunate Rigoletto.
Rigoletto supports and despises
his Duke in equal measure. When all his attempts to shield his
daughter Gilda from the seducing Duke have failed, he plots to
have the Duke assassinated. But Gilda, smitten with the Duke's
alter ego overhears the plot and arrives at the appointed location
in advance of the Duke and is dispatched by the assassin (one
corpse promised, one corpse delivered). As Rigoletto nishes the
revels of his revenge over the concealed body, he opens the body
bag dismayed and heartbroken to nd Gilda.
Our second oering is
in honor of Halloween,
our tribute to the solo
entry in the sub-genre
of science ction space
opera —RHPS. Too
subtle? e Rocky Horror
Picture Show! Last
month's oerings, "Les
Dialogues des Carmelites" and "La Bayadere" were very rened,
serious works. With RHPS we slip from the sublime to the absurd.
RHPS premiered in London in August 1975 then moved to the UA
Westwood a month later. From both locations and ever aer it
has enjoyed the title of the greatest cult lm ever made. Dear
reader, how many times have you attended a midnight showing
of RHPS? Now, how many times in the last 20 years? Make it one
on Oct. 17 in e Lodge eater.
For those uninitiated to RHPS, shame on you — I mean, well
now's your chance to experience a descending elevator with great
anticiPAtion (sic) and learn to dance the "Time Warp." Ask your
neighbors which props to bring and come loaded to unleash them
at the appointed moments.
See you at the opera! ~ Harvey Toyama, admin@fsbopera.org,
(951) 524-3765
Opera Club
Tim Curry as Dr. Frank N Furter
