Lučić's opening night performance was strong and consistent throughout. Željko Lučić has 23 Verdi roles in his repertoire, including two he has performed with SF Opera prior to this season - 'Germont' in La Traviata (2004) and 'Don Carlo' in La Forza del Destino (2005). Željko Lučić, like his predecessors Robert Merrill and Leonard Warren who also thrived in the part, share other roles in common - coming through the ranks with such operas as Pagliacci, Lucia, Carmen and other Verdi operas including La Traviata, Il Trovatore, and Aïda. It takes time and opportunity to build the required vocal chops to sing the role - especially in as large a house as the War Memorial. Historically, the title role of 'Rigoletto' comes to most dramatic baritones toward the middle of their careers. Though challenged by an impossible plot and the inherent difficulties that go with its staging, the opera nevertheless thrives as a virtual showcase for the great artists of the world. Its continuous box office appeal is due primarily to the glorious arias composed for its three principal characters. Verdi's Rigoletto premiered in Venice in 1851 and had its first performance with San Francisco Opera in 1923. Since then, these annual free broadcasts have proven to be one of the most effective innovations by SF Opera's General Director David Gockley. A gathering of 14,000 fans viewed the opera on an elevated screen and marveled at the amazing sound quality of the curvilinear speakers. The production debuted in 1997 and for the 2006 revival it was simulcast across the street in Civic Center.

Conducted by Nicola Luisotti and directed by Harry Silverstein, the live performance at the War Memorial Opera House will be captured by multiple cameras and viewed on one of the best Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Vision scoreboards in the nation.

In the title role was Serbian baritone Željko Lučić and making their SF Opera debuts were Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak as 'Gilda' and Serbian tenor Francesco Demuro as 'The Duke of Mantua.' This Saturday night, September 15th, it's Opera at the Ballpark, featuring the same cast in the Company's annual and admission-free simulcast at AT&T Park.

The 2012 San Francisco Opera Season opened this past Friday night with Giuseppi Verdi's Rigoletto.

Rigoletto san francisco opera