What's Important (Arts & Humanities): The Gothic and the Grotesque-Romanticizing Deformity in Verdi's Rigoletto.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Rigoletto, composed by Giuseppe Verdi, is one of the most commonly performed operas around the world. At the time of its 1851 premiere in Venice, the work was remarkable for its portrayal of a main character with a spinal deformity. Through the music of Rigoletto, Verdi explored the societal tensions surrounding physical deformity in the 19th century, providing valuable lessons about the importance of approaching patient care with compassion and empathy in the present day.