Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: opera
Song Meaning of “Rigoletto / Act III: “La donna è mobile”” by Giuseppe Verdi
This famous aria from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto is a bitter-sweet ode to femininity. The Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto’s nemesis, bemoans the often fickle and capricious nature of women as he sings in the Italian language. The repetitive tempo of the melody expresses the Duke’s underlying frustrations and fear of betrayal. Despite the melodic simplicity, the Duke’s passionate singing underscores the hurt and pain of a heart that has been broken too many times. In the end, the Duke accepts the difficult truth that despite all his efforts, there is no guarantee in love. Women may be mobile—constantly changing and never fully known—but the Duke still pines for their mysterious beauty.