"Rigoletto" on the Air

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 38, 5 April 1929, Page 6

"Rigoletto" on the Air

Popular Tunes Once Whistled Everywhere HEN "Rigoletto" was first produced (in Venice) three-quarters of a century ago) some of its tunes were whistled all through the city. Those tunes are as popular to-day as ever, and testify to the great and enduring popularity of "Rigoletto." Nowadays, when excerpts from "Rigoletto" are sung, one can almost of a certainty hear the Duke’s gay song about women, "Questa o quella," telling how one is as good as another to him; his uncomplimentary ballad, "La donna e mobile’- (‘Woman is fickle"), and the ecstatic "Caro nome," the love song of Gilda, the heroine, when she calls upon the "dear name" of her lover (the Duke, who has pretended to be a poor student). The detached, descending notes at the opening of this song make it easy to identify. These and other such popular airs run through the opera, the presentation of which commences at 1YA on April 10, and at 2¥A on April 12, the opera. being produced in four instalments, spread over four weeks. ; To enable listeners fully to appreciate "Rigoletto," the story of the plo @Rill be fully described. The first instalment will cover Act 1, scene 1, and portion of scene 2, in all seven records. The scene and period of the plot is Mantua, Italy, in the sixteenth century. The Duke of Mantua is a Don Juan against whese attentions no woman is safe. He is indebted for help in his schemes to his jester, Rigoletto. The courtiers naturally have much reason to hate both duke and jester. In the opening instalment of the play, as covered by this programme, the Count Monterone is introduced. He is angry on account of the wrongs done to his daughter. Rigoletto jeers at Monterone, who utters a parent’s curse upon both duke and Jester. The duke is merely amused, but the jester is terrified. The courtiers plan revenge on Rigoletto. The second instalment shows how the courtiers proceeded to carry out their revenge. ‘ Stations 3YA and 4YA will present the first part of the opera on April 17 and 26 respectively.