News

On the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of one of the greatest opera divas of all times Maria Callas, the Opera of the CNT in Zagreb will give Verdi's opera Rigoletto led by Pier Giorgio Morandi, the chief conductor of the Orchestra of the CNT in Zagreb.

Baritone Željko Lučić will appear in the title role of the Zagreb production on December 2, 2023, a role he sings on world stages like La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera.

After a longer period, I am returning to the CNT in Zagreb with my favourite role Rigoletto. The honour of being the guest of the season is very significant for me. I am privileged and honoured to be a part of this season's repertoire of this prominent opera theatre. I am happy that my guest appearance in Zagreb was made possible and that I can return to the stage from which I carry two wonderful memories and great experience. I hope that cooperation with the CNT in Zagreb will continue and that we shall enjoy the beauty of opera music together, said Željko Lučić.

In this festive performance, along Lučić, Rame Lahaj will sing the role of the Duke of Mantua, a tenor that appears on numerous world opera stages; he sung this role in Opera La Monnaie/De Munt in Brussels, Staatsopera in Hamburg, Deutsche Opera in Berlin, Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Opera in Montreal, etc. Soprano Irina Dubrovskaya will sing the role of Gilda that she sang on the opening night.

Lučić is one of the most prominent Verdian baritones, one of the very few who have sung 23 roles in Verdi's works during their careers. In the year of the 210th birth anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi and the 100th birth anniversary of Maria Callas, he was engaged by the leading world opera theatres.

Along Lučić, Lahaj and Dubrovskaya, Ivica Čikeš will appear as Sparafucile, Emilia Rukavina as Maddalena, Ozren Bilušić as Count Monterone, et al.