On 2 August 2025, Aleksandra Szmyd appeared as Gilda in Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto” during an open-air performance at Schloss Braunfels. The historic castle setting once again became the stage for one of the most celebrated works of the Italian operatic repertoire.
The evening featured an international cast of performers. Hongyu Chen, winner of the Romana Vaccaro International Opera Singing Competition, appeared in the title role, while Mexican tenor Marco Antonio Rivera performed as the Duke of Mantua. Aleksandra Szmyd took on the role of Gilda, a character requiring lyric sensitivity, emotional depth and the technical precision associated with Verdi’s soprano repertoire.
Verdi beneath the walls of Braunfels Castle
Audiences heard some of the opera’s most famous excerpts, including “La donna è mobile”, “Cortigiani, vil razza dannata”, “Bella figlia dell’amore” and Gilda’s aria “Caro nome”. The performance was received enthusiastically, while the atmosphere of Schloss Braunfels added additional dramatic intensity to Verdi’s masterpiece.
“Rigoletto” remains one of the defining operas of the nineteenth century, and Aleksandra Szmyd’s appearance as Gilda marked another important moment in her international stage activity during the 2025 season.
