This evening, Étienne Dupuis steps in on just one day’s notice for a one-off performance as Rigoletto at the Opéra National de Paris. He takes on the title role in Claus Guth’s production, conducted by Andrea Battistoni, alongside Francesca Pia Vitale as Gilda, Dmitry Korchak as the Duke, Alexander Tsymbalyuk as Sparafucile, Justina Gringytė as Maddalena, and Daniel Giulianini as Monterone.
The Quebecois baritone, who has previously taken on Verdi’s tragic jester at the Teatro Real in Madrid, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and during the Royal Opera House Covent Garden’s tour of Japan, is a familiar and acclaimed presence in Paris. Local audiences have celebrated his performances in an array of roles, including Don Giovanni, Conte di Luna (Il trovatore), Sancho Pança (Don Quichotte), Escamillo (Carmen), Paolo Albiani (Simon Boccanegra), Rodrigo (Don Carlo), and Belcore (L’elisir d’amore).