On February 6, Stockton’s Performing Arts Center hosted the NJ Verismo Opera Company in presenting Verdi’s Rigoletto, a tragic, three-act opera written by Giuseppe Verdi in 1851.

Starring Michael Nansel as the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto, Nathan Snyder as the Duke of Mantua, and Sarah Mouton Faux as Rigoletto’s naive daughter, Gilda, the company delivered an unforgettable and riveting performance that left the audience in awe. Powerful and versatile voices filled the air inside the PAC, showing off the cast’s undeniable talent, and the live orchestra worked in perfect sync, bringing the beautiful soundtrack to life.

The performance featured three different sets speedily set up on stage behind the curtains. During the 5 to 7-minute pauses in between scenes, the staff managed to turn a royal court into an old village, smoothly transitioning the audience from one scene to another. Red carpets, large paintings, and soft curtains would disappear into cobblestone walls and wooden sheds. The cast’s acting and singing ability pleased the crowd, bringing strong applause after every song. Everyone reacted with humor or surprise at the various turns of events throughout the story.

The end of the performance brought a well-deserved standing ovation and cheers for the cast and crew. Extra praise was given to the main characters of Rigoletto, the Duke, and Gilda. Audience members all shared similar opinions on the opera being “amazing”, “wonderful”, and “beautiful”.

“I really enjoyed it. The cast and the orchestra did a fantastic job. They represented Verdi very well!” said audience member Jennifer Minnis. Another audience member, Jeff Suppes, agreed, stating, “The orchestra was fantastic and Rigoletto’s voice was amazing!”

Gladys Rivera stated, “It was an amazing experience. From the beautiful orchestra to the wonderful range in talented voices, and incredible acting; I will cherish this experience forever! My favorite piece was Gilda’s song about her lover [Caro Nome]. It was absolutely beautiful.”

Sarah Mouton Faux, who played Gilda, is a highly acclaimed singer who made her professional debut with New York City Opera, and has performed in many venues across New York City, singing for many famous roles such as Violetta (La Traviata) and Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro). She stated, “It was wonderful to perform here. The audience was incredibly supportive, it’s a beautiful space, and we all had a wonderful time onstage. It was so fun to be up there with such a [great] audience. It was particularly special for me because my daughter was in the audience, and this was the first time she’d come to see me in a full opera.”

To see upcoming performances and showings in the Performing Arts Center and Experimental Theater, visit https://stockton.edu/pac/.