Search - Matteo Manuguerra, Giuseppe Verdi, Lamberto Gardelli :: Verdi: Stiffelio

Viva Stiffelio!

PhantomOfTheOpera | Norway | 09/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unjustly it has been living in the shadows of more famous operas written by Verdi. For those completely unfamiliar to Stiffelio I can assure you that the opera is packed with beautiful arias from beginning to end and this recording is also blessed with superb singers.



Recorded in 1979, this opera captures the singers in their prime. I belong to the group of people who maintain that Carreras was still in his prime by the end of the 70s and this recording serves as a proof to that. His voice is as glorious as ever; powerful and able to spinning notes of the finest quality. He really puts his mind and soul into the interpretation of the role as the minister Stiffelio. In my opinion no one can beat this performance. As always he evokes emotion like nobody else.



The Hungarian born singer Sylvia Sass is a wonderful Lina, the wife of Stiffelio who's an adulteress. Around the time of this recording she was being heralded as the new Callas and after listening to her singing the role of Lina, you'll have no problems understanding why. Her arias are beautifully sung; it's pure pleasure listening to hear. No unsubtle screaming coming from her, I can assure you.



I have to admit that I hadn't heard of Matteo Manuguerra until I came upon this recording. He gives a convincing performance as Lina's father and his arias are beautiful. The rest of the cast are also adequate.



The story in this opera is built on a timeless issue - infidelity, and even though people looked differently upon this back in the days of Verdi, we can still relate to the problems it causes between Stiffelio and Lina. Stiffelio's jealousy and anger that seems to eat at his heart is also easily understandable. All in all this makes the story interesting both listening to as well as watching. A dvd of the same opera with Carreras still in the main role as Stiffelio is available at amazon. Both are worth while."

Another sublime Lamberto Gardelli early Verdi recording

Armindo | Greece | 11/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Philips did a wonderful job with Verdi's early operas. This set is another example.



Jose Carreras during the 70s was a perfect tenor for early Verdi operas. The voice was sublime (among the best) and the characterisation vivid. If only he had avoided the heavier roles! I'm happy that we have the Stiffelio, Corsaro, Simon Boccanegra, I Due Foscari, La Battaglia di Legnano, Un Giorno di Regno recordings to remember his greatness. Sylvia Sass as heard here, makes me wonder why she didn't record more in the 70s; a genuine powerful dramatic voice (many wrongly accused her of imitating Callas). Manuguerra and the rest of the cast could perhaps be more interesting but I did enjoy them anyway. What I always like with Gardelli's conducting is that he allows the singers to perform and does not overpower them with his orchestra (like Karajan for example).



On the whole, an essential recording for Verdi collectors."

Synopsis

El de la Pira | Barcelona, Spain | 08/31/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The English version of the synopsis is cut at the end of Act 3... it ends with "At first", you turn he page and you find the French version."