 The opera's original title, "La maledizione" (The Curse), refers to a curse placed on both the Duke and Rigoletto by a courtier whose daughter the Duke has seduced with Rigoletto's encouragement.The curse comes to fruition when Gilda falls in love with the Duke and sacrifices her life to save him from the assassin hired by her father.La Fenice of Venice commissioned Verdi in 1850 to compose a new opera.