Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto stands as one of the most dramatically compelling operas of the Romantic era. Adapted from Victor Hugo’s powerful play Le roi s'amuse, the opera unfolds a tragic tale of passion, power, and fate. At its heart lies the fraught triangle between the Duke of Mantua, his jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s beloved daughter, Gilda.Since its premiere in 1851, Rigoletto has captivated audiences with its gripping narrative and unforgettable music, securing its place as a timeless masterpiece on opera stages around the world.

This production is a revival of Opera Australia’s celebrated 1991 staging, which has enjoyed over three decades of acclaim and thirteen revivals worldwide.The late Elijah Moshinsky, one of Australia’s most renowned opera and theater directors, drew inspiration from Federico Fellini’s cinematic masterpiece La Dolce Vita, reimagining the setting from a 16th-century court to 1950s Italy—a world steeped in moral decay, mafia undercurrents, and decadent high society.

With set and costume design by Michael Yeargan, the production features a rotating stage reminiscent of a dollhouse, vividly rendering the contrast between the Duke’s and the Rigoletto’s worlds.Through a visual language inspired by cinematic framing, scenes shift fluidly between opulence and darkness, delivering a powerful visual experience that heightens the opera’s emotional intensity.

Verdi masterfully weaves music and drama together, capturing the emotional depth of each character with remarkable nuance. Timeless arias such as Caro nome, La donna è mobile, and Pari siamo! continue to resonate with enduring power.Under the baton of conductor CHANG Yin-fang, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO) joins forces with a stellar cast of local and international vocalists, guiding audiences through a musical journey shaped by entwined fates, tangled passions, and emotional turmoil.

Conductor／CHANG Yin-fang

A prominent conductor in Taiwan, CHANG Yin-fang is known for her versatility and innovative cross-disciplinary performances. From 2006 to 2022, she served as Assistant Conductor and later Resident Conductor of the Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO), where she curated numerous educational and outreach programs that integrated dance, puppetry, picture books, visual art, and animation into orchestral performance.

Her bold interdisciplinary collaborations have drawn wide attention, including theatrical concert productions such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Peer Gynt with acclaimed actors Sylvia Chang and David Wang, as well as repeated projects with the popular band Sodagreen and internationally renowned duo Igudesman & Joo.

In recent years, she has conducted acclaimed productions at major venues including the National Taichung Theater and Weiwuying, such as The Merry Widow, the music-theater piece The Man with Compound Eyes, the chamber version of Tannhäuser, and 24 Hours Schubert. Her collaborations span the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan, City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, numerous symphonic and Chinese orchestras across Taiwan, the Taipei Chamber Singers, and major national events including the Presidential Office Concert and the Tainan Arts Festival.

Director／ Elijah Moshinsky （1946~2021)

Elijah Moshinsky was a renowned Australian opera and theater director. He made his directorial debut at the Royal Opera House in 1975, launching a distinguished career that led to collaborations with many of the world’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, and Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House.

Moshinsky was especially celebrated for his interpretations of Verdi’s operas, and his productions received widespread acclaim. Over the course of his career, he was awarded the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award for Best Opera three times.

National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO)
Founded in 1945, the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra is the oldest symphonic ensemble in Taiwan. Based in Wufeng, Taichung, it is a fully equipped institution dedicated to excellence in both artistic performance and music education.

Since 2019, internationally renowned conductor Shui Lan has served as Principal Guest Conductor, guiding the orchestra with a mission to refine technique, innovate tradition, cultivate education, and promote aesthetic appreciation. Under the leadership of successive directors, the NTSO has built a wealth of experience and has collaborated with a vast array of distinguished international artists and ensembles.

NTT Choir

Founded in 2020, the choir was formed through a public audition held by the National Taichung Theater. Members undergo training in vocal technique, stage movement, and diction to develop professional performance skills. The ensemble regularly participates in the theater’s annual opera productions through solo, duet, and ensemble performances.