GRAND RAPIDS—Avid opera fans in Michigan can savor back-to-back Rigolettos in October as both Michigan Opera Theatre and Opera Grand Rapids offer this classic Verdi work, considered by many to be his greatest.

Opera Grand Rapids’ production of  Rigoletto will take place October 13 and 14 at DeVos Performance Hall, with stage direction by Stephanie Havey, conducted by James Meena and starring American baritone Stephen Gaertner in the title role. Since his Metropolitan Opera debut as Enrico in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor in October 2007, Stephen Gaertner has emerged as an artist to watch in the operatic world.

Considered to be the birth of Italian grand opera and one of Verdi’s most memorable creations, Rigoletto is a heartrending journey of unrelenting force powered by one recognizable melody after another. The story, based on the controversial play by acclaimed French writer Victor Hugo, resonates with a universality frequently likened to Shakespeare. Fire is fought with fire in this rapidly unfolding drama between a conniving court jester, a promiscuous duke, and an innocent daughter caught in their feud. When the jester seeks revenge, who will have the last laugh?

Opera Grand Rapids’ production is presented in Italian with English titles, the run time is 2 hours 50 minutes. Performances are at 7:30 pm and tickets are available online at www.operagr.org.