Which Verdi opera opens with a banquet in the palace of the Duke of Mantua?
Michael Fabiano Teatro Real as Christian in "Cyrano de Bergerac", Wiener Symphoniker in Elgar's "Dream of Gerontius", in concert with the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Florida Grand Opera as the Duke of Mantua in "Rigoletto". 2012/13 featured appearances at the Seattle Opera as Rodolfo in "La bohème", at Opera Lyra in the same role, in concert with the Deutsche Oper Berlin for their annual AIDS gala, in concert with the Oslo Philharmonic in a televised performance of the Verdi Requiem, the Festival Casals in performances of the Verdi Requiem, the San Francisco Symphony in a series of Beethoven evenings featuring "An die
Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua Francesco IV Gonzaga (7 May 1586 – 22 December 1612), was Duke of Mantua and (as Francesco II) Duke of Montferrat between 9 February and 22 December 1612. Born in Mantua, he was the eldest son of Duke Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici. In 1607, Claudio Monteverdi dedicated his opera "L'Orfeo" to Francesco. The title page of the opera bears the dedication "Al serenissimo signor D. Francesco Gonzaga, Prencipe di Mantoua, & di Monferato, &c." Francesco became Duke upon his father's death on 9 February 1612. He died at Mantua on 22 December