Lyric Opera Chicago’s “Rigoletto,” with Javier Camarena and the company of “Rigoletto”/Photo: Todd Rosenberg

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The big anticipation of Saturday’s opening night of the seventieth season of Lyric Opera was the long-awaited Lyric debut of sensational bel canto Mexican tenor Javier Camarena as the Duke of Mantua in Verdi’s “Rigoletto.”

Camarena had dazzled in a Harris Theater appearance back in 2016 and again in 2021. He was no less memorable traversing some of Verdi’s most well-known tenor music, including the aria “La donna è mobile” that Verdi knew would become so popular that he didn’t rehearse it until briefly before its 1851 Venice opening for fear gondoliers would be singing it across the canals before its premiere.

Camarena alone would have made this an unforgettable “Rigoletto,” but wait: there’s more. Much more.

Russian baritone Igor Golovatenko, who made a respectable company debut as Rodrigue in 2022’s French version of Verdi’s “Don Carlos,” turned in a performance of the title role that was stunning in its vocal and dramatic power. This was no caricature as is so often the case with performances of the hunchbacked jester. Golovatenko brought swagger to his court scenes, paternal tenderness to his father-daughter relationship, unbridled fury when belittled and humiliated, terror when cursed and even quirky humor as needed, but always singing with beauty and lyricism. Bravo.

Lyric Opera Chicago’s “Rigoletto,” with the company of “Rigoletto”/Photo: Todd Rosenberg

Even so, it was Armenian soprano Mané Galoyan who, in the most tender moment of the opera, literally stopped the show. Galoyan was making her Lyric debut and her “Caro nome che il mio cor” was so focused and intimate, so tenderly and beautifully rendered with high notes and trills thrillingly and daringly pianissimo but always lyrical and in character that the audience held its collective breath. The enthusiastic ovation that emerged after its conclusion made clear that the audience knew it had experienced something quite special.

Thanks to director Mary Birnbaum, also making her Lyric debut, the characters are well-developed and their interaction credible and clear. It’s rare and wonderful to have a familiar opera be so beautifully sung and well acted.

Music director Enrique Mazzola led the Lyric Opera Orchestra and men of the Chorus with distinction, carefully attentive to the shifts of mood and color.

A triumph all around that is not to be missed.

Lyric Opera’s “Rigoletto” runs through October 6 at Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker (at Madison). Performance dates are September 18 and 22, 2pm; September 25, 7pm; September 28, 7:30pm; October 1, 7pm; and October 6, 2pm. For tickets and information, call (312)827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org/rigoletto.