KARAGIOZIS AS RIGOLETTO

KARAGIOZIS AS RIGOLETTO 

Available for on-demand streaming from 1 March until 1 November 2026

Στο https://www.nationalopera.gr/GNOTV/en

Music theatre for young audiences · Shadow puppet opera

Ticket: 5€

Avanti, Maestro! Following its grand tour across Greece and its successful presentation at the GNO Alternative Stage, where it delighted audiences of all ages, the shadow puppet opera Karagiozis as Rigoletto is coming to GNO TV. In this successful production of the Alternative Stage, the most famous hunchback jester of shadow puppet theatre, Karagiozis, is called upon to undertake an... operatic mission: to perform the most renowned hunchback in opera, Rigoletto! Karagiozis as Rigoletto is an imaginative and ingenious production that humorously unveils the entire backstage world of opera, spreading knowledge and plenty of laughter in an alternative way.

The shadow puppet opera Karagiozis as Rigoletto, written by the versatile comedian, director and librettist Dimitris Dimopoulos and the experienced shadow puppeteer Alexandros Melissinos, suddenly places Karagiozis in the leading role of Giuseppe Verdi's masterful opera Rigoletto. With boundless humour and disarming innocence, this beloved hero learns everything required to stage an opera, discovering the magic of music theatre through the colourful universe of shadow puppetry.

Its plot is quite intriguing: preparations for the opening of an opera house founded by the Vizier's daughter in the seraglio are reaching their climax. The opening performance will be Verdi's Rigoletto, with the Vizier's daughter appearing in the leading female role. In search of the perfect performer to take on the role of Rigoletto, the court's hunchback jester, she decides to call Karagiozis to audition. Karagiozis succeeds, and after the auditions for the role of the Duke are completed, the three main roles of the opera are filled. Rehearsals begin for a glamorous premiere, brimming with unexpected setbacks and sudden misunderstandings...

The performance Karagiozis as Rigoletto skillfully combines traditional shadow puppet theatre with excerpts from Verdi's opera Rigoletto, based on Francesco Maria Piave's original libretto. The excerpts are performed in Greek by opera singers Manos Kokkonis, Giannis Selitsaniotis, and Marilena Striftombola, accompanied on the piano by Markos Kotsias and Lina Zachari, who also signs the musical adaptation.

Alexandros Melissinos brings Karagiozis' world to life with vibrancy and originality, making this performance a fresh and interactive take on shadow puppet theatre.

Music: Giuseppe Verdi
Original libretto: Francesco Maria Piave
Musical adaptation: Lina Zachari
Text: Dimitris Dimopoulos, Alexandros Melissinos
Greek lyrics adaptation: Dimitris Dimopoulos
Lighting designer: Christos Tziogkas

Cast: Manos Kokkonis, Giannis Selitsaniotis, Marilena Striftombola
Shadow puppeteer: Alexandros Melissinos
Karagiozis' friend: Dimitris Dimopoulos

Markos Kotsias piano

With the Orchestra and Chorus of the Greek National Opera

With a 5-euro ticket, viewers can enjoy this production from the comfort of their homes at tv.nationalopera.gr/en, at any time they choose, on their computer, ipad, TV or mobile phones. The ticket offers the possibility to access the performance for an unlimited number of times over the course of a 30-day period starting from the first streaming.

Lead Donor of the Greek National Opera and Founding Donor of the GNO TV

Stavros Niarchos Foundation