Jonathan Miller first produced and directed ''Rigoletto'' in 1975. Instead of placing the action in 16th-century Mantua, as tradition would have it, he moved it up to the 19th century, which he felt would be more compatible with Verdi's score. Then in 1982, Mr. Miller went further, transferring the opera to Little Italy in New York City in the 1950's, the world of the godfather......
