A new Verdi role for Étienne Dupuis: Still fresh from his unanimously praised debut as Don Carlo di Vargas in La forza del destino at the Royal Opera House London just two months ago, the Quebecois baritone is now taking on what is arguably the most iconic Verdi baritone role, Rigoletto, at the Teatro Real Madrid on December 3, 7, 10, 13, 18, 29, in a new production by Miguel del Arco and under the musical direction of Nicola Luisotti (and Christoph Koncz in some performances). He will share the stage with Julie Fuchs as Gilda, Xabier Anduaga as Duca di Mantova, Peixin Chen as Sparafucile and Ramona Zaharia as Maddalena. Last season, Étienne Dupuis had made headlines with another Verdi debut, Conte di Luna in Il trovatore at the Opéra de Montréal and at the Opéra National de Paris. Other parts of the Busseto-born composer include Rodrigo di Posa / Rodrigue de Posa in Don Carlo / Don Carlos, starring in the Metropolitan first ever production of Verdi’s masterpiece in French, and Germont in La traviata (as recently as September in a high- profile Viennese performance starring Anna Netrebko). Later this season, he will add a new Verdi role to his already impressive repertoire, Paolo Albiani in Simon Boccanegra at the Opéra National de Paris.

[Photo: Dario Acosta]