Bermuda audiences will have a unique opportunity to see one of the world's greatest operas when the Midsummer Opera Company returns for a third visit to perform Verdi's `Rigoletto' at this year's Bermuda Festival. Based on Victor Hugo's tragic tale `Le Roi s'amuse', the opera has several famous arias -- `Caro nome', `Questa o quella' and, most notably, `La donne e mobile.' First produced in 1851 at the famous La Fenice opera house, in Venice, (now being restored after a disastrous fire), `Rigoletto' was the first of Verdi's three great `mature' operas (the others being `Il Travatore' and `La Traviata') and, due to its memorably melodic score, has remained an artistic and box-office favourite ever since.

Formed in London as an `outdoor' company just over a decade ago, Midsummer Opera has, with its growing reputation, moved from a suburban garden to performances throughout the UK, France, Luxembourg and Germany.

Under the direction of harpsichordist David Roblou, the company has concentrated on 17th and 18th century operas, earning high praise for productions of `Cosi fan tutti' and `The Marriage of Figaro' -- both popular with local audiences.

Roblou is also professor of harpsichord, keyboard continuo and vocal coaching at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and gives regular masterclasses in Scotland, Venezuela and Sweden.

In 1995, the company scored a huge success with London audiences when it celebrated its tenth anniversary with a performance of Handel's `Partenope' at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.