ACT I

The Duke of Mantua is a serial womaniser. At a palace party, not content with the married Countess Ceprano, the Duke reveals he is also infatuated with a mysterious woman he has seen in church. The jester Rigoletto jokes that the Duke should have the Countess’s husband murdered. Count Ceprano vows to kidnap Rigoletto’s lover as punishment. The elderly nobleman Monterone confronts the Duke about his seduction of his daughter. Rigoletto taunts him and the old man curses the Duke and the jester. Rigoletto’s so-called ‘lover’ is in fact his daughter, Gilda, whom he keeps under lock and key at home. She has secretly fallen in love with the disguised Duke of Mantua. Rigoletto is tricked into facilitating the abduction of his daughter by Count Ceprano. When he realises his daughter is gone, Rigoletto fears the power of Monterone’s curse.

INTERVAL

ACT II

The Duke returned to see Gilda but the house was empty. Now back in his palace, he curses whoever has robbed him of his prize. His courtiers rush in to tell him about their exploits of the previous night. The Duke guesses that Rigoletto’s ‘mistress’ and daughter are the same person. He goes to find Gilda. Back at the Duke’s mansion, Rigoletto is dismayed to learn that Gilda has been delivered into the Duke’s clutches. Monterone is sent to prison, and Rigoletto swears revenge on the Duke.

ACT III

A month has passed. Rigoletto has hired an assassin, Sparafucile, to murder the Duke. Sparafucile’s sister, Maddalena, acts as bait, luring him to their home. Rigoletto forces Gilda to witness the Duke seducing Maddalena. Gilda is heartbroken. Maddalena falls for the Duke and begs her brother to kill Rigoletto instead. Gilda overhears Sparafucile’s alternative plan – to stab the next traveller who knocks at their door – and sacrifices herself. When Rigoletto discovers his dying daughter, he is haunted by Monterone’s curse.