The libretto for Giuseppe Verdi's 'Rigoletto' was adapted by Francesco Maria Piave from Victor Hugo's play Le roi s'amuse which was so controversial it had been banned in Paris after one performance. It is still recognised as one of Verdi's finest scores. The opening of the final act contains two of the most famous pieces in all opera: the Duke's 'La donna e mobile' (which needs no introduction) and the famous quartet 'Bella figlia dell'amore ' in which each character is expressing a different emotion. This edition is in Italian with an English version by Ruth and Thomas Martin.
