Rigoletto is an Italian opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi , first performance at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice , on March 11 , 1851 , libretto by Francesco Maria Piave , after Victor Hugo 's play Le Roi s ` amuse . The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s ` amuse by Victor Hugo . It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11 , 1851 .