Quinn Kelsey, the Hawaii-born baritone who is now considered one of the world’s best opera singers, will perform his signature role of Rigoletto, in the opera of the same name, next summer.

Kelsey, who began his vocal training with his family and sang with Hawaii Opera Theatre as a youngster, has emerged as one of this generation’s finest “Verdi baritones,” a term reserved for singers who specialize in the challenging baritone roles created by Giuseppe Verdi, including Rigoletto.

Famed Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, who performed with Kelsey in San Francisco Opera’s production of “Attila,” told MusicalCriticism.com, “His type of vocality has been missing for a long time. … This voice type has a peculiar nobility of timbre. And Kelsey has the right color, a beautiful technique — all the right qualities.”

“Rigoletto” tells the tragic story of a hunchbacked court jester who tries to protect his daughter from his lecherous master, the Duke of Mantua. One of the more amusing stories behind its 1851 premiere involves the original Rigoletto, Felice Varesi, who was so worried about wearing the prosthetic hunchback that he had to be pushed onto the stage, stumbling and nearly falling. In a recital with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra earlier this year, Kelsey reintroduced himself to his home state by stumbling onto the stage, drawing laughs.

Kelsey has been performing “Rigoletto” around the world over the last few years, earning critical acclaim at nearly every venue. “His Rigoletto is a huge, shambling presence, who sings with tremendous assurance and easy, even richness,” wrote Andrew Clements in the London-based Guardian, while John Coulbourn of the Toronto Sun called him “a magnificently expressive baritone with a face and a voice for tragedy.”

The production will be a concert version, with the singers and orchestra on stage. Hawaii Opera Theatre will be bringing a strong supporting cast of artists to perform with Kelsey, including his sister Blythe as Giovanna. Other performers include HOT newcomers Nadine Sierra (Gilda), Barry Banks (Duke), Matthew Trevino (Sparafucile) and Cynthia Hanna (Maddalena).

Tickets for the June 26 concert are $29-$130 and are on sale now through Hawaii Opera Theatre. Visit hawaiiopera.org or call 596-7858.