Regents Opera’s minimalist Rigoletto falls well short of their usual quality

United Kingdom Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Orchestra of Regents Opera / Ben Woodward (piano/conductor). Bloomsbury Theatre, London, 17.7.2026. (JR)

Less is not always more, sometimes it is just less. Regents Opera have impressed in recent years with their Ring cycle (review here), employing a reasonably-sized orchestra. Their production of Salome, whilst small scale, was excellent too (review here): but that is an opera without a chorus.

I felt that a scaled-down Rigoletto, without a chorus, did not work and left me unmoved. The orchestra, if you can call it that, consisted merely of five players, Ben Woodward on the piano (conducting when not playing), two clarinets, a flute and a cello. They worked hard but inevitably had no heft, especially when nobody was singing. It did not help the singers that the orchestra was placed behind the set and ensemble faltered.

Talking about Emily Cave’s ‘set’, I have to say it looked like a poor school production. A black cloth was draped over a raised platform (table) with steps either side. In the last act there was a door into Sparafucile’s inn. Some wooden planks were placed, stage left, not sure what that was supposed to depict.

Many of the singers took a while to warm up. The performance, especially with the reduced orchestra, felt like a dress rehearsal. Except that Regents Opera only put on this one performance. Oliver Gibbs is a stalwart for this opera company and he knows the role of Rigoletto well. His voice is firm, his thespian skills not quite convincing enough. He hardly ever looked distraught.

Gareth Dafydd Morris had an offnight as The Duke. Anything above the stave was obscured by an issue in his throat or chest. Was it hay fever, or the remnants of a summer cold? In any event, it was most unfortunate, even if the top notes were hit. The audience was not asked for prior indulgence. ‘La donna è mobile’ was well rendered, at least in the lower and middle registers. Morris could not manage even the semblance of a smile at the final curtain call.

After she had warmed up, Luci Briginshaw’s Gilda was a delight, the top notes really sparkled: I was not surprised to read she was a Queen of the Night at Glyndebourne – they know good voices when they hear one. Her ‘Caro nome’ aria was a fine showcase for her excellent coloratura: she had no difficulty with its technical demands: the trills were precise. A pity that her dress in Scene Two made her look unnecessarily frumpy, hardly much of a temptation to a libidinous Duke.

Top marks to William Stevens for his dark Sparafucile, he looked and sounded the part perfectly. Andrew Mayor was a stentorian Monterone. The trio of courtiers, Marullo, Ceprano and Borsa were adequately sung though their ensemble was ragged at times and, as suggested above, not helped by the conductor being behind them. Their comic routine (‘Zitti, zitti’) with dance movements and elements of the Keystone Cops amused the audience, as did their masks which made them look like racoons.

All in all for me it was a rather disappointing evening; this opera is usually a smash hit, one tune following the other. One thought of Epstein and Weinstein as Dafydd Morris’s Duke lusted lasciviously after the women in his sights. However, the orgy in the first scene had to make do with just one woman.

A fuller orchestra was really missed. I do hope that when Regents Opera puts on Parsifal next March, they can afford more orchestral players and a reasonably-sized chorus: otherwise that too could be a disappointment.

John Rhodes

Featured Image: Oliver Gibbs (Rigoletto) © Camilla Nervi

Cast:
Rigoletto – Oliver Gibbs
Gilda – Luci Briginshaw
The Duke – Gareth Dafydd Morris
Sparafucile – William Stevens
Giovanna / Maddalena – Catherine Backhouse
Ceprano – Andrew Tinkler
Borsa – David Newman
Marullo – Evan Dunn
Monterone – Andrew Mayor
Countess Ceprano – Elinor Popham
Monterone’s daughter – Anna Smith

Production:
Musical director – Ben Woodward
Director – Eleanor Strutt
Assistant Director – City Farrant Shaw
Costume and Set designer – Emily Cave
Lighting designer – Joe Doody