| In his palace ballroom, the Duke of Mantua tells Borsa of his designs on a beautiful girl he has seen in church. Then, admiring Count Ceprano’s wife, the Duke rejoices in the beauty of women and his libertine hedonism. The Duke’s flirtatious dance with the Countess causes Rigoletto, the court jester, to mock the enraged but helpless Count. The nobles, delighted by the Duke’s daring, are even more amused when Marullo bursts in with the latest gossip: Rigoletto is keeping a young mistress in his home. Sure of his master’s protection, the jester is so free with his humiliating jibes that Ceprano plots with other courtiers to punish him. Monterone forces his way into the party to denounce the Duke for seducing his daughter. Viciously ridiculed by Rigoletto, Monterone hurls a father’s curse at the terrified jester. |
