Rigoletto was written by Verdi as a social commentary on a corrupt and abusive nobility. It is a masterpiece that presents a moving and multifaceted story, juxtaposing good and evil; beauty and disfigurement, purity and promiscuity; honesty and deceit, as well as loyalty and betrayal. The gripping drama is matched by powerful melodies and dramatic orchestration, as well as some of the most compelling arias in all of opera.