Photos from 2009 Real Estate Night At The Opera
Saturday, March 28, 2009
PLEASE JOIN US FOR
Real Estate Night at the Opera:
An Elegant Evening for San Diego's Real Estate Community
Saturday, March 28, 2009
San Diego Opera
Civic Theatre, 3rd and B Streets, Downtown San Diego
Come together with leaders from every sector involved in a real estate deal—from developers, builders, brokers and lenders, to investors, accountants and architects-for an elegant evening in support of San Diego Opera.
Pre-Opera Networking Reception - 5:30 PM
The evening begins with an elegant, private Pre-Opera reception, hosted by San Diego favorite, Venice Ristorante Italiano-La Jolla. Guests will mix and mingle in the Bravissimo Patron Tent while they enjoy delicious Italian cuisine, featuring savory hors d’oeuvres, ravioli stations and decadent tiramisu for dessert. Please note that this event is Black-tie optional, so feel free to get all dressed up!
OPENING NIGHT OF Verdi’s rigoletto- 7:00 PM
A father’s curse comes alive when the lecherous Duke of Mantua seduces the innocent daughter of his court jester Rigoletto – and Rigoletto plots vengeance. Set in the opulent world of the Italian Renaissance with fast paced, powerful music, this is Verdi at his best!
SPECIAL EVENT PACKAGES ARE REQUIRED:
The prices outlined below for Real Estate Night at the Opera include admission to the Pre-Opera Networking Reception and a Premier Seat for Rigoletto on Saturday, March 28, 2009.
NEW FOR 2009! “Location, Location, Location” Package: $255 per person
Join us in the Orchestra for Real Estate Night at the Opera and you and your guests will enjoy a variety of special benefits during the evening including: the best seats for Rigoletto, recognition during the Pre-Opera Reception, and an invitation to participate in an exclusive Backstage Tour at the start of the night.
To Purchase Tickets*
Packages must be purchased in advance through Bonnie Keller at San Diego Opera
- email: Bonnie.Keller@sdopera.com
- phone: 619-533-7044
Ticket Pricing
| Section |
All Inclusive Prices |
|---|---|
| B3, B4 | $120 |
| B2 | $140 |
| B1, DC3, MZ3 | $165 |
| UL, DC2, MZ2 | $195 |
| Location, Location, Location Package | $255 |
Not sure where to sit?
This new online feature allows you to see the view from every section of the theatre.
View from a Seat!
*Please note that All sales are final. no refunds or exchanges. cast and repertoire are subject to change. seating subject to availability.
Questions? Bonnie Keller will be happy to address any questions leading up to the event. Please contact her directly at 619.533.7044 or Bonnie.Keller@sdopera.com
Rigoletto
The Story
The lecherous Duke of Mantua seduces wives and daughters while his hunchbacked Jester, Rigoletto, adds insult to injury by ridiculing their husbands and fathers. Finally, the joke goes too far and a furious father pronounces a curse on Rigoletto. The curse comes alive as the Duke seduces Rigoletto’s young, innocent daughter Gilda, then deepens when Rigoletto hires an assassin to kill the Duke. Will Gilda’s love for the Duke finally bring the curse down upon them all?
The Music
Fast paced, powerful, simply wonderful music, this is Verdi at his best. You’ll recognize melody after melody from the tenor’s arrogant "La donna è mobile", to the great Quartet, to the soprano’s wistful "Caro nome".
The Look
Our beautifully traditional vision takes this timeless classic back in time. From the glitter and glamour of the Duke’s Court, to the sleazy inn where Rigoletto recruits his assassin – you’ll be transported to the world of the Italian Renaissance.
Cast Highlights
Towering Georgian baritone, Lado Ataneli – star of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2008 Macbeth and our 2005 Simon Boccanegra – is the tragic jester, Rigoletto. Joining him is Italian tenor, Roberto Aronica, as the Duke of Mantua. Stunning Slovak soprano, L'ubica Vargicová rounds out our fabulous cast as Gilda.
The running time is approximately 2 hours, 42 minutes.
Rigoletto
Act I
In his palace ballroom, the Duke of Mantua tells Borsa of his designs on a beautiful girl he has seen in church. Then, admiring Count Ceprano’s wife, the Duke rejoices in the beauty of women and his libertine hedonism. The Duke’s flirtatious dance with the Countess causes Rigoletto, the court jester, to mock the enraged but helpless Count. The nobles, delighted by the Duke’s daring, are even more amused when Marullo bursts in with the latest gossip: Rigoletto is keeping a young mistress in his home. Sure of his master’s protection, the jester is so free with his humiliating jibes that Ceprano plots with other courtiers to punish him. Monterone forces his way into the party to denounce the Duke for seducing his daughter. Viciously ridiculed by Rigoletto, Monterone hurls a father’s curse at the terrified jester.
Act II
On the way home that night, Rigoletto broods over Monterone’s curse. A dark figure, Sparafucile, steps from the shadows, offering his services as an assassin. The jester dismisses him, reflecting that his own tongue is as sharp as any murderer’s dagger. He enters the courtyard. Gilda, his daughter, rushes into his arms. When she questions him about her long-dead mother, Rigoletto nostalgically describes his wife as an angel, adding that Gilda is everything to him. But he will not reveal his name or allow her to leave the house except to go to church. Rigoletto warns her nurse, Giovanna, to admit no one. He runs out to the street when he hears someone at the gate. At the same moment, the Duke slips into the courtyard, unseen by Gilda, who confesses to Giovanna that she is in love with a young man who follows them to church. Waving Giovanna away, the Duke tells Gilda that he loves her too, and is “Gualtier Maldè,” a poor student. At the sound of footsteps – Ceprano and Borsa are rallying courtiers outside – Gilda begs him to leave and they exchange excited goodbyes. Repeating his name, Gilda goes up to bed. Meanwhile, the malicious courtiers stop Rigoletto outside and ask him to help abduct Ceprano’s wife, who lives across the street. The jester is duped into wearing a blindfold and holding a ladder against his own garden wall. The courtiers break into his house and carry Gilda off. Rigoletto discovers the deception only when he realizes that the abduction is taking too long and hears Gilda’s cries for help. He tears off the blindfold and rushes into the house. Not finding Gilda, he remembers Monterone’s curse.
Act III
In his palace, the Duke is puzzled that he did not find Gilda when he returned to her house. When his courtiers return, saying they took her and she is now in his chamber, he dashes off to his new conquest. Rigoletto enters, pretending indifference as he searches for Gilda. Though the courtiers are astonished to learn she is his daughter, they bar his way. He lashes out at their cruelty, and then begs for mercy. Gilda appears and runs in shame to her father. Alone with Rigoletto, Gilda tells of falling in love at church, of the Duke’s courtship and of her abduction. When Monterone is led through on his way to the dungeons, Rigoletto declares he will avenge them both, though Gilda begs him not to harm the Duke.
Act IV
On a stormy night, Rigoletto and Gilda wait outside a lonely inn where Sparafucile and his sister and accomplice Maddalena live. When Gilda insists she still loves the Duke, Rigoletto makes her watch as the Duke, disguised as a soldier and laughing at the fickleness of women, makes love to Maddalena. Rigoletto tells Gilda to go off to Verona, disguised as a boy. When she has gone, Rigoletto hires Sparafucile to murder the Duke and leaves. A storm breaks. Gilda returns to overhear Maddalena urge her brother to spare the stranger and kill Rigoletto instead. Sparafucile agrees to substitute the next person who comes to the inn. Gilda, resolved to sacrifice herself for the Duke, knocks at the door and is stabbed. As the storm subsides, Rigoletto returns to claim his prize—only to hear his supposed victim singing in the distance. Frantically opening the sack containing a body, he finds his dying daughter. Rigoletto cries out that Monterone’s curse has been fulfilled.
