Saturday: Verdi's taut, tragic "Rigoletto"-- the title means, roughly, "comedian" -- has at least one tune you know and perhaps the best storm in all of opera; it makes a far better finale for the Minnesota Orchestra's Sommerfest than did last year's "Der Rosenkavalier." The starry cast, headed by the superb Stephen Powell (pictured) in what is arguably Verdi's greatest baritone role, boasts Maureen O'Flynn as the ill-fated Gilda and Gwyn Hughes Jones as the all-too-likable Duke; smaller roles in this concert performance are taken by worthy locals. Andrew Litton conducts. In Italian, with supertitles. (8 p.m. Sat. $30-$75. Ted Mann Concert Hall, University of Minnesota, 2128 S. 4th St., Mpls. 612-371-5656 or www. minnesotaorchestra.org.)
LARRY FUCHSBERG
