Composer Giuseppe Verdi Librettist Francesco Maria Piave Based On the play "Le Roi s'amuse" by Victor Hugo Company San Francisco Opera Association Touring Location Los Angeles, CA Venue Shrine Auditorium Season 1951 Language Italian Creative/Crew Conductor Pietro Cimara Stage Director(s) William Wymetal Technical Director Armando Agnini Chorus Director Kurt Herbert Adler Cast Rigoletto, a hunchback, jester to the Duke Robert Weede Gilda, his daughter Lily Pons Duke of Mantua, a titled profligate Jussi Bjoerling Sparafucile, a hired assassin Dezso Ernster Maddalena, his sister Herta Glaz Count Monterone Desire Ligeti Count Ceprano Colin Harvey Borsa Alessio De Paolis Marullo George Cehanovsky Countess Ceprano Yvonne Chauveau Giovanna Eileen Baldwin Page Sherrill Lanyon Show Dates Sat, Nov 3 1951, 8pm Time and Place Sixteenth century; Mantua and Vicinity Scenes Act I -- Ballroom in the Duke's Palace Act II -- A Street outside Rigoletto's House Act III -- A Hall in the Duke's Palace Act IV -- Ruined Inn in a Lonely Spot -- Sparafucile's Home Notes Corps de Ballet