Opera San Jose has a knack for making 19th-century dramas relevant for today’s audiences. They’re taking on Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto this winter, which premiered in Venice in 1851. Fast-paced and packed with plot twists, the story follows a hunchbacked jester named Rigoletto who dares to challenge the corrupt Duke of Mantua. With absurdly catchy songs like “La donna è mobile (Women are Fickle),” sung by the oh-so-detestable Duke, this opera was an instant hit upon its premiere. It has continued to speak to audiences through the centuries about the sacrifices one must sometimes make for their honor and—attention, millennials—for their job. (AM)
Sat, 7:30pm, $55 – $195
California Theatre, San Jose
