Rigoletto returns home after the cremation of his daughter Gilda. He recalls the events of the past month that led to the tragedy. The image of his beloved daughter constantly appears in his mind.
Act 1
Forty days earlier. Party at the house of the Duke of Mantua. Having escorted his wife, who is expecting a baby, to the bedroom, the Duke begins to court the Countess Ceprano. Rigoletto, the Duke’s jester, mocks the Count Ceprano and advises the Duke to abduct the Countess that night. Ceprano swears to take revenge on the jester. Marullo announces to the guests that Rigoletto has a lover. The fun is interrupted by the arrival of the Count Monterone, who denounces the Duke for seducing his daughter. Rigoletto taunts Monterone, and the outraged Count curses the Duke and the jester.
On the way to the church Rigoletto keeps thinking about Monterone’s curse. He encounters Sparafucile, a professional assassin who notices Rigoletto's confusion and offers his services. In the temple, Rigoletto meets Gilda, accompanied by the nurse, Giovanna. Fearing the Duke and his retinue, he has forbidden the daughter to leave the house, except for the church. After Rigoletto leaves, a young man appears. It is the Duke disguised as a student. He happened to meet Gilda in the street and now pledges his eternal love to her. At this time, the courtiers gather outside the church, intending to abduct Gilda who they take to be the jester's mistress. Sensing something is amiss, Rigoletto returns to the temple and is confronted by Marullo, Ceprano and Borsa. To dispel the jester's suspicions, Marullo tells of the impending abduction of the Countess Ceprano, who allegedly has come to confession. Rigoletto decides to join the kidnappers and wears a blindfold. Hearing Gilda's distant screams, he realizes what has happened.
Act 2
The Duke is distraught because the stranger, who he saw the day before in the church, has been abducted. The Duchess is looking for her husband: she blames herself for the fact that her husband has lost interest in her. The courtiers tell the Duke that they have brought the jester's mistress, and the Duke retreats to his bedromm to be alone with her. Rigoletto searches for Gilda everywhere, disgiusing his desperation with indifference. Upon learning that Gilda is in the palace, he demands his daughter back. Soon she appears from the Duke's bedroom. Rigoletto swears to avenge his daughter's disgrace. Meeting with Monterone, who is on his way to execution, strengthens his resolve. Gilda begs her father to forgive the Duke.
A mounth later. A motel on the outskirts of Mantua, night. The Duke arrives in disguise. One of his recent passions has been Maddalena, Sparafucile's sister. Rigoletto brings Gilda to the motel so that the girl discovers the infidelity of her lover. He tells her to go to Verona disguised as a boy while he himself stays to pay Sparafucile to murder of the Duke. A thunderstorm starts. Maddalena urges her brother to spare the victim, and Sparafucile agrees to kill the next stragner who comes after midnight instead of him. This conversation is overheard by Gilda. She still loves the Duke and has returned to warn him of the danger. She enters the motel. The storm subsides. Sparafucile takes out the bag with the dead body. Rigoletto is about to throw it into the river, but he hears the duke's voice coming from the window. He opens the bag and sees his dying daughter.
Master of the Stage (Yuri Devin — Rigoletto)