The courtiers, led by Ceprano (Gerald Hannon, left), Marullo (Stephen Targett, centre) and Borsa (Gerrit Seppenwoolde, right), enter and tell the Duke they have abducted Gilda, and left her in his chamber. He rushes off to take her.
When a distraught Rigoletto (Yevgeny Yablonovsky) enters, the courtiers get their revenge, mocking him and pretending not to know Gilda’s whereabouts.





Rigoletto stuns the courtiers when he tells them that Gilda is his daughter, not his mistress. He tells them that she is the entire world to him, and begs them to let him go to her, but they turn their backs on him.

Gilda (Catherine Rooney) rushes in, ashamed and distraught. Rigoletto demands the courtiers leave them alone together, and he hears the story of how the Duke seduced her.
Count Monterone (David Lasker) appears, being led to prison. He bewails the fact that his curse has not harmed the Duke, but Rigoletto swears he will be avenged.


Gilda, still in love with the man who violated her, begs her father to forgive him, but Rigoletto is set on vengeance.