Nikoloz Lagvilava stars in Essen theatre relaunch of ’Rigoletto’

Georgian baritone Nikoloz Lagvilava is starring as one of the principal characters of the opera classic Rigoletto as the production is restored at the Aalto-Musiktheater venue in Essen, Germany.

Lagvilava is appearing as court jester Rigoletto in the 1851 Verdi classic staged in a redaction by opera director Frank Hilbrich.

The Rigoletto staging, previously hosted at the venue, was relaunched on Saturday in a bill that involves three more shows over the next month.

Watch Nikoloz Lagvilava and Lubica Vargicova perform in ‘Rigoletto’ at the Slovak National Theatre earlier this year:

Lagvilava will be involved in all three evenings scheduled for October 29, November 4 and 19.

He will be partnered with tenor Carlos Cardoso in the role of the Duke of Mantua, while Olesya Golovneva and Cristina Pasaroiu will alternate for the role of Gilda.

The Hilbrich redaction involves stage design by Volker Thiele and costumes by Gabriele Rupprecht.

A preview for the show from the Essen theatre noted the relevance of the work’s theme in contemporary times, saying "Verdi has the pulse of time” in the problems raised that still "have enormous topicality”.

Born in Tbilisi, Lagvilava graduated from the Vano Sarajishvili State Conservatoire in Georgia's capital before joining the academy of the famed Teatro alla Scala in Milan.

The singer has performed as first soloist of the State Opera House of Georgia in famous classical productions including Un Ballo in Maschera, Nabucco and La traviata.

Lagvilava has also appeared in productions at venues including Norway's National Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow.