A performance like this reminds one why Rigoletto is such an enduring favorite, both for its unforgettable melodies and its vividly drawn characters. Aldo Protti’s elegant voice is somewhat at odds with Rigoletto’s gruff nature, yet he imparts the character’s vulnerability in a way that is deeply moving, revealing him not as inherently malevolent but rather as a man hurt and broken by life. Virginia Zeani exhibits sublime control, conveying Gilda’s innocence and optimism at the beginning of the opera and her strength and abandon in the final moments. Giuseppe Zampieri, captured here in his all too brief prime, makes a dashing Duke.