Stiffelio
Encyclopedia
Stiffelio is an opera
in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi
, from an Italian libretto
by Francesco Maria Piave
, based on the play
Le pasteur, ou L'évangile et le foyer by Émile Souvestre
and Eugène Bourgeois
. The opera was first performed on 16 November 1850 at the Teatro Grande
, Trieste
.
The original story line of Stiffelio excited vigorous censorship for various reasons, involving as it does a Protestant
minister of the church with an adulterous wife, and a final church scene in which he forgives her with words quoted from the New Testament
.
"In Italy and Austrian Trieste ... a married priest was a contradiction in terms. Therefore there was no question of a church in the final scene...."
Alessandro Linari in 1852 to create a more suitable ending, Verdi was furious and refused.
It was not until four years later that Verdi reworked Stiffelio, from a revised libretto also by Piave. It was presented in 1857 as the four-act opera Aroldo
, a more radical alteration, with the action transferred to thirteenth-century England, and with the final scene entirely replaced by a wholly new fourth act.
n peninsula in the 1850s and 1860s, for more than a century. In fact, although vocal scores were known, the full score was thought to have been lost until the discovery of a copyist's score at the Naples Conservatory in the 1960s. This led to a successful revival at the Teatro Regio in Parma
in 1968. A new performing edition prepared for Bärenreiter
was the basis of performances at Naples
and Cologne
, but it cut material (especially from the Act 1 overture and choruses), and added in sections from Aroldo which were not in the original score.
Stiffelio is believed to have received its first British performance in an English language production at the Collegiate Theatre, London, by the University College London
Music Society on 14 February 1973. Because of the cuts and additions in the Bärenreiter
edition, microfilm of the Naples copyist's score was obtained to restore the composer's intentions as far as possible. Since even the original premiere was partly cut by the censors, this was probably one of the first ever authentic performances of the work.
It is often erroneously stated that the American premiere of Stiffelio was given by Sarah Caldwell
and the Opera Company of Boston
on 17 February 1978,
however the actual American stage premiere was given by Vincent La Selva
and the New York Grand Opera on 4 June 1976 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
with Richard Taylor as Stiffelio and Norma French as Lina. It was also revived in 1993 under rather dire circumstances as part of their comprehensive and chronological survey of the operas of Verdi. In 1985–1986 the Teatro La Fenice in Venice
mounted Aroldo and Stiffelio back to back in conjunction with an international scholarly conference which was held in Venice in December 1985. The Royal Opera
in London presented its house premiere of Stiffelio on 25 January 1993. This production has been released on DVD
with José Carreras
in the title role.
In 1992, through the efforts of the Institute for Verdi Studies in Parma, it was revealed that Verdi's heirs at Sant'Agata in Villanova sull'Arda
possessed most of the autograph of Stiffelio, as well as 60 pages of sketches. The surviving manuscript pages were only lacking the "first 27 measures of recitative in the scene and duet for Lina and Stankar and 24 measures at the beginning of the stretta in the chorus and first finale" and "the concluding prayer and last finale." Copies of the these manuscript materials were provided to the University of Chicago
's The Works of Giuseppe Verdi, and a critical edition was prepared by Kathleen Kuzmick Hansell which utilized all the known material that Verdi actually wrote. Although some important alterations in the vocal parts of the 1993 London production were based on information from the autograph, the first complete performance of the new score was given on 21 October 1993 at the Metropolitan Opera
house in New York. The production was repeated 16 more times between October 1993 and 1998 and was released on DVD with Plácido Domingo
in the title role. The Met production was revived again in 2010, with Domingo conducting, and José Cura
in the title role. The new version has also been performed at La Scala
and in Berlin and Los Angeles.
The Sarasota Opera
presented Stiffelio in 2005 as part of its "Verdi Cycle" of all of the composer's operas to be completed by 2013. A video clip from the production can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeOuxu2vLc0.
1 flute
(doubling on piccolo
),
2 oboe
s (one doubling on English horn),
2 clarinet
s,
2 bassoon
s,
4 horn
s,
2 trumpet
s,
3 trombone
s,
cimbasso
,
timpani
,
snare drum
,
bass drum
,
cymbals,
organ
,
strings
(violin
I and II, viola
, cello
, double bass
)
Stiffelio, a minister, is expected to return from a mission. His wife Lina, her father Stankar, and her cousins Dorotea and Federico are waiting for him. In addition, there is Raffaele who, unknown to all, is Lina 's lover. Stiffelio arrives and recounts how the castle's boatman has told him the strange story of having seen a man and a woman escaping from a castle window and, as they did so, dropping a packet of letters, which Stiffelio now holds. Refusing to learn by opening the package who was involved, he throws the letters into the fire, much to the relief of Lina and Raffaele. Secretly, Raffaele communicates to Lina that he will leave instructions as where they may next meet inside a locked volume in the library.
After he has been greeted by friends, Lina and Stiffelio are left alone (Non ha per me un acento – "She has no word for me, not a glance"). He tells her of the sin he has witnessed (Vidi dovunque gemere – "Everywhere I saw virtue groan beneath the oppressor's yoke") and then notices that her wedding ring is not on her finger. Angrily, he demands to know why (Ah v'appare in fronte scritto – "Ah, clearly written on your brow is the shame that wages war in your heart"), but Stankar arrives to escort him to the celebrations being arranged by his friends. Alone, Lina is filled with remorse (A te ascenda, O Dio clemente - "Let my sighs and tears ascend to thee, O merciful God").
Scene 2: The same, later
Deciding to write a confession to Stiffelio, Lina begins to write, but her father enters and grabs the letter, which he reads aloud. Stankar rebukes her (Dite che il fallo a tergere - "Tell him that your heart lacks the strength to wash away your sins", but is determined to preserve family honor and cover up his daughter's behavior (Ed io pure in faccia agli uomoni - "So before the face of mankind I must stifle my anger"). In their duet, father and daughter come to some resolve (O meco venite - "Come now with me; tears are of no consequence") and they leave.
Now Raffaele enters to place the note in the volume, which has been agreed to. Jorg, the elderly preacher, observes this just as Federico arrives to take the volume away. Jorg's suspicions fall upon Federico and he shares what he knows with Stiffelio. Seeing the volume and realizing that it is locked, he is told that Lina has a key. She is summoned, but when she refuses to unlock it, Stiffelio grabs it and breaks it open. The incriminating letter falls out, but it is quickly taken up by Stankar and torn into many pieces, much to the fury of Stiffelio.
Lina has gone to her mother's grave at the cemetery to pray (Ah dagli scanni eternei - "Ah, from among the ethereal thrones, where, blessed, you take your seat"), but Raffaele joins her. She immediately asks him to leave. He laments her rejection (Lina, Lina! Perder dunquevoi volete - "Lina, then you wish to destroy this unhappy, betrayed wretch" and refuses to go (Io resto - "I stay"). Stankar arrives, demands that his daughter leave, and then challenges Raffaele to a duel. Stiffelio arrives, and announces that no fighting can take place in a cemetery. There is an attempt at conciliation whereby the priest takes Stankar's hand and then Raffaelo's, joining them together. However, Stankar reveals that Stiffelio has touched the hand of the man who betrayed him! Not quite understanding at first, Stiffelio demands that the mystery be solved. As Lina returns demanding her husband's forgiveness, Stiffelio begins to comprehend the situation (Ah, no! E impossibile - "It cannot be! Tell me at least that it is a lie"). Demanding an explanation, he challenges Raffaelo to fight but, as he is about to strike the younger man, Jorg arrives to summon the priest to the church from which the sound of the waiting congregation can be heard. Filled with conflicting emotions, Stiffelio drops his sword, asks God to inspire his speech to his parishioners, but, at the same time, curses his wife.
Alone in his room, Stankar reads a letter which tells him that Raffaele has fled and that he seeks to have Lina join him. He is in despair over his daughter's behaviour (Lina pensai che un angelo in te mi desse il cielo - "Lina, I thought that in you an angel brought me heavenly bliss"). For a moment, he resolves to commit suicide and begins to write a letter to Stiffelio. But Jorg enters to give him the news that he has tracked down Raffaele who will be returning to the castle. Stankar rejoices (O gioia inesprimibile, che questo core inondi! - "Oh, the inexpressible joy that floods this heart of mine!"), as he sees revenge being within reach. He leaves.
Stiffelio confronts Raffaele and asks him what he would do if Lina were free, offering him a choice between "a guilty freedom" and "the future of the woman you have destroyed". The younger man does not respond, and the priest tells him to listen to his encounter with Lina from the other room. Stiffelio lays out the reason that their marriage can be annulled (Opposto è il calle che in avvenire - "Opposite are the paths that in future our lives will follow"). Lina's reaction, when presented with the divorce decree, is to swear an on-going love for her husband ("I will die for love of you"). Appealing to Stiffelio more as a priest than as a husband, Lina confesses that she has always loved him and she still does. Stankar enters to announce that Raffaele is dead and Jorg tries to convince Stiffelio to come to the church service (Ah si, voliamo al tempio - "Ah, yes, let us flee to the church").
Scene 2: A church
In the church, Stiffelio mounts the pulpit and opens the Bible
to the story of the adulterous woman (. As he reads the words of forgiveness (perdonata) he looks at Lina and it is clear that she too is forgiven.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
, from an Italian libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
by Francesco Maria Piave
Francesco Maria Piave
Francesco Maria Piave was an Italian opera librettist who was born in Murano in the lagoon of Venice, during the brief Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. His career spanned over twenty years working with many of the significant composers of his day...
, based on the play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
Le pasteur, ou L'évangile et le foyer by Émile Souvestre
Émile Souvestre
Émile Souvestre was a French novelist who was a native of Morlaix, Finistère.He was the son of a civil engineer and was educated at the college of Pontivy, with the intention of following his father's career by entering the Polytechnic School...
and Eugène Bourgeois
Eugène Bourgeois
Claude Eugène Hippolyte Bourgeois was a French dramatist and writer. He is remembered today for collaborating with Émile Souvestre on the play Le Pasteur ou l'Évangile et le foyer, which was adapted by Francesco Maria Piave into the libretto for Giuseppe Verdi's Stiffelio...
. The opera was first performed on 16 November 1850 at the Teatro Grande
Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi
The Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi is an opera house located in Trieste, Italy and named after the composer Giuseppe Verdi. Privately constructed, it was inaugurated as the Teatro Nuovo to replace the smaller 800-seat "Cesareo Regio Teatro di San Pietro" on 21 April 1801 with a performance of Johann...
, Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
.
The original story line of Stiffelio excited vigorous censorship for various reasons, involving as it does a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
minister of the church with an adulterous wife, and a final church scene in which he forgives her with words quoted from the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
.
"In Italy and Austrian Trieste ... a married priest was a contradiction in terms. Therefore there was no question of a church in the final scene...."
Other versions of the opera
A revised version of the opera, entitled Guglielmo Wellingrode (with the hero a German minister of state), was presented in 1851, without either Verdi or his librettist Piave being responsible for it. In fact, when asked by impresarioImpresario
An impresario is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays or operas; analogous to a film producer in filmmaking, television production and an angel investor in business...
Alessandro Linari in 1852 to create a more suitable ending, Verdi was furious and refused.
It was not until four years later that Verdi reworked Stiffelio, from a revised libretto also by Piave. It was presented in 1857 as the four-act opera Aroldo
Aroldo
Aroldo is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, based on and adapted from their earlier 1850 collaboration, Stiffelio...
, a more radical alteration, with the action transferred to thirteenth-century England, and with the final scene entirely replaced by a wholly new fourth act.
Performance and textual history of Stiffelio
After it was revised and presented as Aroldo, Stiffelio was not performed again on stage, with the exception of some productions in the IberiaIberia
The name Iberia refers to three historical regions of the old world:* Iberian Peninsula, in Southwest Europe, location of modern-day Portugal and Spain** Prehistoric Iberia...
n peninsula in the 1850s and 1860s, for more than a century. In fact, although vocal scores were known, the full score was thought to have been lost until the discovery of a copyist's score at the Naples Conservatory in the 1960s. This led to a successful revival at the Teatro Regio in Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
in 1968. A new performing edition prepared for Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter is a German classical music publishing house based in Kassel. The firm was founded by Karl Vötterle in Augsburg in 1923, and moved to Kassel in 1927, where it still maintains headquarters; it also has offices in Basel, London, New York and Prague...
was the basis of performances at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
and Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, but it cut material (especially from the Act 1 overture and choruses), and added in sections from Aroldo which were not in the original score.
Stiffelio is believed to have received its first British performance in an English language production at the Collegiate Theatre, London, by the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
Music Society on 14 February 1973. Because of the cuts and additions in the Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter is a German classical music publishing house based in Kassel. The firm was founded by Karl Vötterle in Augsburg in 1923, and moved to Kassel in 1927, where it still maintains headquarters; it also has offices in Basel, London, New York and Prague...
edition, microfilm of the Naples copyist's score was obtained to restore the composer's intentions as far as possible. Since even the original premiere was partly cut by the censors, this was probably one of the first ever authentic performances of the work.
It is often erroneously stated that the American premiere of Stiffelio was given by Sarah Caldwell
Sarah Caldwell
Sarah Caldwell was a notable American opera conductor, impresario, and stage director of opera.- Life :Caldwell was born in Maryville, Missouri, and grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She was a child prodigy and gave public performances on the violin by the time she was ten years old...
and the Opera Company of Boston
Opera Company of Boston
The Opera Company of Boston was an American opera company located in Boston, Massachusetts that was active during the late 1950s through the early 1990s. The company was founded by American conductor Sarah Caldwell in 1958 under the name Boston Opera Group. At one time, the touring arm of the...
on 17 February 1978,
however the actual American stage premiere was given by Vincent La Selva
Vincent La Selva
Vincent La Selva is an American conductor. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he began performing at the age of 8, and by the age of 12, he was conducting student performances. He received his bachelor's degree from the Juilliard School, where he has served on the faculty since 1969...
and the New York Grand Opera on 4 June 1976 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
with Richard Taylor as Stiffelio and Norma French as Lina. It was also revived in 1993 under rather dire circumstances as part of their comprehensive and chronological survey of the operas of Verdi. In 1985–1986 the Teatro La Fenice in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
mounted Aroldo and Stiffelio back to back in conjunction with an international scholarly conference which was held in Venice in December 1985. The Royal Opera
Royal Opera, London
The Royal Opera is an opera company based in central London, resident at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Along with the English National Opera, it is one of the two principal opera companies in London. Founded in 1946 as the Covent Garden Opera Company, it was known by that title until 1968...
in London presented its house premiere of Stiffelio on 25 January 1993. This production has been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
with José Carreras
José Carreras
Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini...
in the title role.
In 1992, through the efforts of the Institute for Verdi Studies in Parma, it was revealed that Verdi's heirs at Sant'Agata in Villanova sull'Arda
Villanova sull'Arda
Villanova sull'Arda is a comune in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 120 km northwest of Bologna and about 25 km east of Piacenza....
possessed most of the autograph of Stiffelio, as well as 60 pages of sketches. The surviving manuscript pages were only lacking the "first 27 measures of recitative in the scene and duet for Lina and Stankar and 24 measures at the beginning of the stretta in the chorus and first finale" and "the concluding prayer and last finale." Copies of the these manuscript materials were provided to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
's The Works of Giuseppe Verdi, and a critical edition was prepared by Kathleen Kuzmick Hansell which utilized all the known material that Verdi actually wrote. Although some important alterations in the vocal parts of the 1993 London production were based on information from the autograph, the first complete performance of the new score was given on 21 October 1993 at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
house in New York. The production was repeated 16 more times between October 1993 and 1998 and was released on DVD with Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
in the title role. The Met production was revived again in 2010, with Domingo conducting, and José Cura
José Cura
José Cura is a prominent operatic tenor known for his intense and original interpretations of his characters, notably Verdi’s Otello and Saint-Saëns’ Samson, as well as for his unconventional and innovative concert performances. He is also able to perform high baritone roles with the extended...
in the title role. The new version has also been performed at La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
and in Berlin and Los Angeles.
The Sarasota Opera
Sarasota Opera
Sarasota Opera is a professional opera company in Sarasota, Florida, USA, which owns and performs in the now-renovated 1,119-seat Sarasota Opera House. The 2011-2012 season is currently featuring Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in the fall...
presented Stiffelio in 2005 as part of its "Verdi Cycle" of all of the composer's operas to be completed by 2013. A video clip from the production can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeOuxu2vLc0.
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 16 November 1850 (Conductor: -) |
|---|---|---|
| Stiffelio, a Protestant minister | tenor Tenor The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2... |
Gaetano Fraschini Gaetano Fraschini Gaetano Fraschini was an Italian tenor. He created many roles in 19th century operas, including five composed by Giuseppe Verdi. His voice was "heroic ... with a baritonal quality, ..... |
| Lina, his wife | soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody... |
Marietta Gazzaniga Marietta Gazzaniga Marietta Gazzaniga was an Italian operatic soprano.Gazzaniga was born in Voghera and studied singing with Alberto Mazzucato in Milan... |
| Count Stankar, her father, an elderly colonel | baritone Baritone Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or... |
Filippo Colini Filippo Colini Filippo Colini was an Italian operatic baritone. He is best known today for creating roles in the world premieres of several operas by Giuseppe Verdi, including Giacomo in Giovanna d'Arco , Rolando in La battaglia di Legnano , and Stankar in Stiffelio... |
| Raffaele, Lina's lover | tenor | Ranieri Dei |
| Jorg, an elderly minister | bass | Francesco Reduzzi |
| Dorotea, Lina's cousin | mezzo-soprano Mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above... |
Viezzoli De Silvestrini |
| Federico, Dorotea's lover | tenor | Giovanni Petrovich |
Instrumentation
Stiffelio is scored for the following instruments:1 flute
Western concert flute
The Western concert flute is a transverse woodwind instrument made of metal or wood. It is the most common variant of the flute. A musician who plays the flute is called a flautist, flutist, or flute player....
(doubling on piccolo
Piccolo
The piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written...
),
2 oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
s (one doubling on English horn),
2 clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
s,
2 bassoon
Bassoon
The bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
s,
4 horn
Horn (instrument)
The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
s,
2 trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s,
3 trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
s,
cimbasso
Cimbasso
The cimbasso is a brass instrument in the trombone family, with a sound ranging from warm and mellow to bright and menacing. It has three to five piston or rotary valves, a predominantly cylindrical bore, and is usually pitched in F or B♭...
,
timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
,
snare drum
Snare drum
The snare drum or side drum is a melodic percussion instrument with strands of snares made of curled metal wire, metal cable, plastic cable, or gut cords stretched across the drumhead, typically the bottom. Pipe and tabor and some military snare drums often have a second set of snares on the bottom...
,
bass drum
Bass drum
Bass drums are percussion instruments that can vary in size and are used in several musical genres. Three major types of bass drums can be distinguished. The type usually seen or heard in orchestral, ensemble or concert band music is the orchestral, or concert bass drum . It is the largest drum of...
,
cymbals,
organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
,
strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
(violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
I and II, viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
)
Synopsis
- Place: Count Stankar's castle by the River Salzbach, Germany
- Time: Early 19th Century
Act 1
Scene 1: A hall in Count Stankar's castleStiffelio, a minister, is expected to return from a mission. His wife Lina, her father Stankar, and her cousins Dorotea and Federico are waiting for him. In addition, there is Raffaele who, unknown to all, is Lina 's lover. Stiffelio arrives and recounts how the castle's boatman has told him the strange story of having seen a man and a woman escaping from a castle window and, as they did so, dropping a packet of letters, which Stiffelio now holds. Refusing to learn by opening the package who was involved, he throws the letters into the fire, much to the relief of Lina and Raffaele. Secretly, Raffaele communicates to Lina that he will leave instructions as where they may next meet inside a locked volume in the library.
After he has been greeted by friends, Lina and Stiffelio are left alone (Non ha per me un acento – "She has no word for me, not a glance"). He tells her of the sin he has witnessed (Vidi dovunque gemere – "Everywhere I saw virtue groan beneath the oppressor's yoke") and then notices that her wedding ring is not on her finger. Angrily, he demands to know why (Ah v'appare in fronte scritto – "Ah, clearly written on your brow is the shame that wages war in your heart"), but Stankar arrives to escort him to the celebrations being arranged by his friends. Alone, Lina is filled with remorse (A te ascenda, O Dio clemente - "Let my sighs and tears ascend to thee, O merciful God").
Scene 2: The same, later
Deciding to write a confession to Stiffelio, Lina begins to write, but her father enters and grabs the letter, which he reads aloud. Stankar rebukes her (Dite che il fallo a tergere - "Tell him that your heart lacks the strength to wash away your sins", but is determined to preserve family honor and cover up his daughter's behavior (Ed io pure in faccia agli uomoni - "So before the face of mankind I must stifle my anger"). In their duet, father and daughter come to some resolve (O meco venite - "Come now with me; tears are of no consequence") and they leave.
Now Raffaele enters to place the note in the volume, which has been agreed to. Jorg, the elderly preacher, observes this just as Federico arrives to take the volume away. Jorg's suspicions fall upon Federico and he shares what he knows with Stiffelio. Seeing the volume and realizing that it is locked, he is told that Lina has a key. She is summoned, but when she refuses to unlock it, Stiffelio grabs it and breaks it open. The incriminating letter falls out, but it is quickly taken up by Stankar and torn into many pieces, much to the fury of Stiffelio.
Act 2
A graveyard near the castleLina has gone to her mother's grave at the cemetery to pray (Ah dagli scanni eternei - "Ah, from among the ethereal thrones, where, blessed, you take your seat"), but Raffaele joins her. She immediately asks him to leave. He laments her rejection (Lina, Lina! Perder dunquevoi volete - "Lina, then you wish to destroy this unhappy, betrayed wretch" and refuses to go (Io resto - "I stay"). Stankar arrives, demands that his daughter leave, and then challenges Raffaele to a duel. Stiffelio arrives, and announces that no fighting can take place in a cemetery. There is an attempt at conciliation whereby the priest takes Stankar's hand and then Raffaelo's, joining them together. However, Stankar reveals that Stiffelio has touched the hand of the man who betrayed him! Not quite understanding at first, Stiffelio demands that the mystery be solved. As Lina returns demanding her husband's forgiveness, Stiffelio begins to comprehend the situation (Ah, no! E impossibile - "It cannot be! Tell me at least that it is a lie"). Demanding an explanation, he challenges Raffaelo to fight but, as he is about to strike the younger man, Jorg arrives to summon the priest to the church from which the sound of the waiting congregation can be heard. Filled with conflicting emotions, Stiffelio drops his sword, asks God to inspire his speech to his parishioners, but, at the same time, curses his wife.
Act 3
Scene 1: A room in Count Stankar's CastleAlone in his room, Stankar reads a letter which tells him that Raffaele has fled and that he seeks to have Lina join him. He is in despair over his daughter's behaviour (Lina pensai che un angelo in te mi desse il cielo - "Lina, I thought that in you an angel brought me heavenly bliss"). For a moment, he resolves to commit suicide and begins to write a letter to Stiffelio. But Jorg enters to give him the news that he has tracked down Raffaele who will be returning to the castle. Stankar rejoices (O gioia inesprimibile, che questo core inondi! - "Oh, the inexpressible joy that floods this heart of mine!"), as he sees revenge being within reach. He leaves.
Stiffelio confronts Raffaele and asks him what he would do if Lina were free, offering him a choice between "a guilty freedom" and "the future of the woman you have destroyed". The younger man does not respond, and the priest tells him to listen to his encounter with Lina from the other room. Stiffelio lays out the reason that their marriage can be annulled (Opposto è il calle che in avvenire - "Opposite are the paths that in future our lives will follow"). Lina's reaction, when presented with the divorce decree, is to swear an on-going love for her husband ("I will die for love of you"). Appealing to Stiffelio more as a priest than as a husband, Lina confesses that she has always loved him and she still does. Stankar enters to announce that Raffaele is dead and Jorg tries to convince Stiffelio to come to the church service (Ah si, voliamo al tempio - "Ah, yes, let us flee to the church").
Scene 2: A church
In the church, Stiffelio mounts the pulpit and opens the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
to the story of the adulterous woman (. As he reads the words of forgiveness (perdonata) he looks at Lina and it is clear that she too is forgiven.
Recordings
| Year | Cast (Stiffelio, Lina, Stankar, Jorg) |
Conductor, Opera House and Orchestra |
Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Gastone Limarilli, Angeles Gulin Dominguez, Walter Alberti, Beniamino Prior |
Peter Maag Peter Maag -Life:He was born on 10 May 1919 in St. Gallen, Switzerland and died on 16 April 2001 in Verona, Italy.His father, Otto, was a Lutheran minister and his mother, Nelly, a violinist who performed in the Capet Quartet as second violinist. His great uncles were conductors Emil and Fritz Steinbach. ... , Teatro Regio di Parma orchestra and chorus |
Audio CD: Melodram Milano Cat: CDM 27033 |
| 1979 | José Carreras José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini... , Sylvia Sass Sylvia Sass Sylvia Sass is a Hungarian operatic soprano who has sung leading roles both in her native country and internationally.-Life and career:... , Matteo Manuguerra Matteo Manuguerra Matteo Manuguerra was a Tunisian-born French baritone, one of the leading Verdi baritones of the 1970s.Manuguerra was born in Tunis, Tunisia, to Italian parents, who later moved to Argentina. He came late to music, starting his vocal study at the age of 35, at the Buenos Aires Music Conservatory,... , Wladimiro Ganzarolli Wladimiro Ganzarolli Wladimiro Ganzarolli was an Italian operatic bass-baritone, particularly associated with Mozart and Rossini roles.... |
Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli Lamberto Gardelli was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory, especially the works of Giuseppe Verdi.... , ORF Symphony orchestra and chorus |
Audio CD: Decca Cat: 475 6775 |
| 1993 | José Carreras José Carreras Josep Maria Carreras i Coll , better known as José Carreras , is a Spanish Catalan tenor particularly known for his performances in the operas of Verdi and Puccini... , Catherine Malfitano Catherine Malfitano Catherine Malfitano is an American operatic soprano. She is generally considered to be one of America's leading operatic sopranos... , Gregory Yurisich, Gwynne Howell Gwynne Howell Gwynne Howell is a Welsh bass, particularly associated with Verdi and Wagner roles.-Life and career:Born in Gorseinon, Wales, he studied at the RMCM, where he sang Leporello in concert, and Hunding, Fasolt, and Pogner in staged performances.He joined the Sadler's Wells Theatre in 1968, and the... |
Edward Downes Edward Downes Sir Edward Thomas "Ted" Downes, CBE was an English conductor, specialising in opera.He was associated with the Royal Opera House from 1952, and with Opera Australia from 1970. He was also well known for his long working relationship with the BBC Philharmonic and for working with the Netherlands... , Royal Opera House Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The... orchestra and chorus |
DVD: Kultur Cat: D1497 |
| 1993 | Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range... , Sharon Sweet Sharon Sweet Sharon Sweet is an American dramatic soprano. Sharon Sweet has appeared in leading roles in several major venues in Europe and the United States and has made notable contributions to several recordings, in particular Lohengrin, Der Freischütz, Don Giovanni, and Il Trovatore... , Vladimir Chernov Vladimir Chernov Vladimir Chernov is a Russian baritone, particularly associated with the Russian and Italian opera repertories.-Early life:... , Paul Plishka Paul Plishka Paul Plishka is a Ukrainian-American bass opera singer.Mr Plishka comes from Old Forge, Pennsylvania and Paterson, New Jersey; his parents were American-born children of Ukrainian immigrants... |
James Levine James Levine James Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has... , Metropolitan Opera Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager... orchestra and chorus |
DVD: Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label... Cat: 00440 073 4288 |
| 2001 | Mario Malagnini, Dimitra Theodossiou, Marco Vratogna, Enzo Capuano |
Nicola Luisotti Nicola Luisotti Nicola Luisotti is an Italian musician. He has been music director of San Francisco Opera since September 2009 and also serves as principal guest conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.-Early life:... , Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi, Trieste |
Audio CD: Dynamic Cat: CDS362 |