Pierre Yovanovitch’s moving stage for Rigoletto opera in Basel

Rigoletto set-design by Pierre Yovanovitch at Thater Basel - Photo by © Matthias Baus.

Rigoletto set-design by Pierre Yovanovitch at Theater Basel – Photo by © Matthias Baus.

Interior design – Pierre Yovanovitch has created the set design for the opera house’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto at Theater Basel in Switzerland. Starting from Rigoletto’s tragic storyline and the universal themes of vengeance, naivety, and power, the French residential interior and furniture designer has conceptualised a contemporary, moveable design scheme, creating a bold yet uncomplicated canvas for the psychologically complex storyline.

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Photo by © Paolo Abate.

Following the story of the protagonist, Rigoletto, his relationship with his daughter and their tragic outcome, “I created a moving set that could gradually take shape as Rigoletto’s curse evolves,” explains Yovanovitch, an opera enthusiast.

Photo by © Paolo Abate.

By making the installation mobile, each scene offers a different perspective and emphasises the mounting drama throughout the opera. Along the edges, simple doorways and windows punctuate the smooth walls.

Photo by © Matthias Baus.

“I conceived it as a stripped-down set so that the characters’ souls, in disinheritance, can take up as much place as they need. The décor also symbolises the passage of time, quickly, and above all, what we have done with our lives and what it has done with us.”

The choice of bold colours and a streamlined installation reflect the powerful and layered storyline. The bright red, blue and white hues selected for the curved walls were carefully chosen by Yovanovitch and his team to frame the characters and draw attention to the shift in acts throughout the show.

Photo by © Paolo Abate.

Beyond referencing the storyline, Yovanovitch also pulls inspiration from his own design work, incorporating his signature curved staircase, distinct colours and architectural angles. He also designed furniture pieces for the production, including a red circular table and stools, a bed, a curved sectional sofa and a minimalistic neon chandelier.

Photo by © Paolo Abate.

Lighting design is smoothly projected on the curvilinear lines and surfaces to complement the design scheme tuning with the different moods of Rigoletto and accentuating climatic moments.