Stiffelio

Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)

DESCRIPTION

Verdi's Stiffelio, a Protestant tale of infidelity and forgiveness, remains an outlier within the composer’s canon. Its narrative, culminating not in vengeance or death but in reconciliation, defies operatic convention, particularly within Verdi’s oeuvre. The final act—where Stiffelio publicly forgives his wife Lina from the pulpit—eschews melodrama in favor of moral introspection. Yet, if the libretto offers a subdued dramatic arc, Verdi’s score compensates with striking orchestral inventiveness, exploring textures that reach beyond his usual harmonic and instrumental language.

In the title role, Mario Del Monaco brings muscularity and urgency, presenting a persuasive case for a tenor part as vocally demanding and emotionally fraught as any in Verdi’s repertoire. Ángeles Gulín contributes a richly colored soprano, her voice conveying both the vulnerability and inner torment of Lina with conviction. Her portrayal imbues a potentially one-dimensional figure with genuine pathos and depth.

CAST

Stiffelio – Mario Del Monaco
Lina – Ángeles Gulín
Stankar – Giulio Fioravanti
Raffaele – Angelo Marchiandi
Jorg – Joshua Hecht
Dorotea – Eva Ruta
Federico – Luigi Paolino

DETAILS

Location: Napoli
Date: December 26, 1972
Conductor: Oliviero De Fabritiis
Catalogue Number: OD 12267-2
Label: Opera Depot
Number of Discs: 2
In Mono

BONUS

Mario Del Monaco and Raina Kabaivanska sing excerpts from Otello – London, 1963