This 1927 La Scala performance was the first to be widely available, but has few outstanding features to modern ears. It is cut in the traditional ways and suffers from a weak performance of the title rôle. However, there is enough interest in the young Pagliughi, Folger's Duke and Baccaloni in a rare excursion from the buffo repertoire to justify its inclusion here.
Carlo Sabajno conducts La Scala
Rigoletto: L. Piazza
Gilda: Lina
Pagliughi
Duke: Tino Folger
Maddalena: de Cristoff
Sparafucile:
Salvatore Baccaloni
Monterone / Marullo: Baracchi
Act I
Opening ... Questa o quella
Qual
vecchio maledivami ... Pari siamo
Giovanna ... E
il sol del anime
Gualtier Malde ... Caro nome
Act II
Ella mi fu rapita ... Parmi veder le lagrime
Povero Rigoletto ... Cortigiani, vil razza dannata
Tutte le feste
Act III
Opening ... La donna e mobile
Bella
figlia dell' amore