Composed in 1851, Rigoletto is considered the first opera of Verdi’s middle period, a time when he focused less on political allegory and larger-than-life heroes and heroines, and instead turned his eye to more intimate stories of deep human emotion. Through his music, the composer evokes a full spectrum of emotions, from the horror of a curse, to the sighing of first love, to the tempestuous storm that leads to the final scene. Many of the melodies in this piece are incredibly memorable; legend tells it that Verdi kept the tenor aria “La donna è mobile” secret until the opera’s premiere, knowing that it would instantly be a hit.