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The alterations to this final scene in Verdiās opera were significant, accentuating the extremes. Lina mounts the stairs on her knees in an excruciating crawl, presenting surely one of the epochās most abased depictions of the āfallen womanā. But equally, as Stiffelio sings the final words of pardon, his hand on the Bible, Lina rises to her feet, hands lifted high (āsi alza da terra e colle mani alzateā) ā an amendment to the stage directions added in Verdiās own hand ā and exclaims āGran Dio!ā Musically, Verdi under-pinned this series of actions by having Stiffelio repeat the word āperdonataā (āpardonedā) four times in total, with growing intensity until the word is marked tutto forza as it evokes the final sanction, āiddio lo pronunziĆ²!ā (āgod proclaims it!ā). Stiffelioās act of forgiveness is reinforced by bringing in the chorus and full orchestra to reprise the same sequence in stirring fashion. in the final bars, Linaās physical ascent to rehabilitation finds aural manifestation in her soaring cā²ā²ā² on āGran Dio!ā; the curtain falls.
At least, that was the intention. Censorship did not permit this mise-en-scĆØne in the first production of the opera at Trieste. while the music remained intact, Stiffelioās allusion to the biblical parable of the adulteress was changed simply to a more general reference to clemency and forgiveness; in the final tableau, Lina remained penitentially on her knees, without the exalted rise to her feet and her hands reaching up to heaven; most ominously of all, perhaps, Stiffelio āsi allontanaā (ādistances himself from herā).
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Premiere:Ā world premiere: November 16, 1850; Teatro Grande, Trieste, Austria (now Italy). premiere of Verdi and Piaveās complete and uncensored original version: October 21, 1993; Metropolitan Opera, New York, New York.
(Half Faust and half Don Juan, he was powerful because of his intelligence, his will, his senses; but there remained in him a void which nothing could fill: he did not have a heart!)- p.15
Requested by: no one, but this opera is ridiculously underrated and also Iāve been thinking about it almost nonstop for a couple of weeks, so here you go.
(Special thanks to @sweatershowgirl for being a perfect springboard for ideas and a source of moral support while writing this.)
Recommended Audio Recordings: The 1980 Gardelli recording (YouTube; Spotify) is marvelously performed on all accounts and is still my go-to. However, it does not account for the critical edition discoveries made within the last thirty years; the 2000 Luisotti recording (YouTube; Spotify) does and is also wonderfully performed. Both are good to have in your library.
Recommended Video Recordings: Stiffelio is very lucky on film; just about any production is worth a watch. However, the Venice 2016 production (available here with Italian and French subtitles) is my favorite. The Met 1993 production was my first full one and I would highly recommend it if not for everyoneās least favorite tenor-conductor pair, Placido Domingo and James Levine *sigh*. (Iām still mad at the Met for not filming the 2010 revival with Sondra Radvanovsky as Lina and Michael Fabiano as Raffaele. But I digress.)
The Opera, Very Simplified: A Protestant minister returns home from an extended ministry trip only to get the feeling that something is extremely off, but he doesnāt know what. When he discovers that he has been horribly betrayed, he finds himself in an extreme internal conflict between his desire for revenge and his faithās calling of forgiveness.
One More Note: Because the censors absolutely sucked, Verdi ended up withdrawing this opera in 1856 and reusing most of the music (although writing a new fourth act to replace the final scene, as well as revising music elsewhere) for another opera entitled Aroldo, which has a somewhat similar plot. However, trust me when I say that itās nowhere near as good. Watch it as a curiosity, I guess, but seriously this is way better.
(As for Stiffelio, it was thought lost for over a hundred years and the first modern performance wasnāt until 1968, while the first performance using all of Verdiās original manuscripts wasnāt until 1993. For perspective, that is only ten years before I was born.)
THE OPERA:
Overture
Act I:
Scene 1:
A hall in the castle. In the middle of the back wall is a door, with a window to its left. A fireplace burns at right. In front of the window there is a table with books, one of which is very large and has a clasp lock. There is also a large table, where Jorg is sitting alone and reading.
Jorg: Holy Word of God, give us the truth and inspire Godās chosen prophets!
As for you, Stiffelio, as you come home, let your words strike fear into the hearts of Godās enemies on earth as lightning, floods, or storms do!
*He closes the book, gets up, and looks outside.*
Heās back! His wifeās gone to meet him. As for them, Heaven forbid that their love and anything related to that gets in the way of his mission!
*Stiffelio enters with Lina, Stankar, Raffaele, Federico, and Dorotea.*
Stiffelio: At last, I get to see you all again-- my dear wife, my friendsā¦
Jorg: Welcome back, Stiffelio!
Stankar: My son-in-law!
Stankar, Raffaele, Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: WEāRE ALL SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN WEāRE ALL GONNA REMEMBER THIS DAY FOREVER BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU
Dorotea: Hey, one of the boatmen came here earlier because he wanted to see you.
Stiffelio: Did he want to talk about something?
Dorotea: Yes.
Stiffelio: Oh yeah, that was Walter. Good man. He saw something strange a little while ago and wanted my guidance about it.
Stankar, Raffaele, Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: Can you tell us what he told you?
Stiffelio: Sure! Iām not forbidden to tell you.
So he was crossing the river from here at dawn one day when he saw a window in a tower of this castle open, and then he saw a terrified young man looking out of it.
Stankar: (Wait! I have my suspicions about this!)
Lina and Raffaele: (Oh God, what am I hearing?!)
Jorg: Tell us the rest!
Federico and Dorotea: Well, thatās certainly strange.
Stiffelio: And THEN he saw a woman appear at the window and she looked almost like she had lost her mind. The man hesitated for a second but it seemed fear got the better of him because he stood on the window ledge and then jumped into the river!
Stankar: How long ago was this?
Stiffelio: Eight days ago.
Lina: OH NO OH GOD
Raffaele: (...This is EXACTLY what happened with meā¦)
Stankar, Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: Did they figure out who he was?
Stiffelio: *taking a wallet out of his pocket* No, but the man dropped these papersā¦
Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: ooh can we see them?
Lina and Raffaele: oh no oh noĀ
Stankar: What are you going to do with them?
Stiffelio: Well, in order to return them, Iād have to read the papers to find the name of the person who dropped them, and then Iād find out about something that honestly really isnāt my business. My job is to save souls, not to go snooping around in peopleās personal documents.
Jorg: Soā¦
Lina and Raffaele: What is he going to do?
Stankar, Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: What have you decided?
Stiffelio: LET THE PAPERS BURN ALONG WITH THE NAME OF THE GUILTY MAN
*Which he summarily does by throwing them in the fireplace.*
Lina and Raffaele: THANK GOD I CAN BREATHE AGAIN
Stankar, Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: HEāS SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON
Stiffelio: Let both the sin and the identity of the sinner be buried in the ashes. After all, God has told us we must forgive each other.
Jorg and Federico: His forgiveness is so great that even the memory of the sin has been forgotten (and us talking about it is definitely not an oxymoron)!
Raffaele: *whispering* HEY LINA I REALLY WANT TO MEET WITH YOU AGAIN EVEN THOUGH ITāS NECESSARY TO HIDE AND LIE TO DO SO
Jorg, Federico, and Dorotea: STIFFELIO IS SUCH A GOOD AND PURE AND WONDERFUL PERSON
Stankar: ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Raffaele Iām not sure whatās going on between you and my daughter but I have my suspicions and if it turns out Iām right and that youāve destroyed our honor then you will fucking pay for it with your LIFE
Raffaele: *still whispering* IāM GOING TO PUT A LETTER IN THAT BOOK WE HAVE KEYS TO THAT WILL TELL YOU WHERE WEāRE GOING TO MEET NEXT
Lina: Thank God everyone didnāt find outā¦
Stiffelio: God has said it, it is written: we must forgive each other.
Lina: THANK GOD BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN MOVED BY MY ANGUISH SO IF IāM SAVED THEN I WILL NEVER FALL INTO SIN AGAIN
Friends and Congregation Members: *from outside* LONG LIVE STIFFELIO
Stiffelio: Whatās going on?
Jorg: *looking through the window* There are a bunch of happy people coming to see you!
Stiffelio: Why?
Jorg: Duh, because they want to welcome you!
*All of the family friends and members of Stiffelioās congregation enter.*
Friends and Congregation Members: Where is he? OH THERE HE ISĀ
HEY STIFFELIO WE HAVE A SONG FOR YOU BECAUSE WE THINK YOUāRE AWESOME BECAUSE YOUāRE THE PRIDE OF AUSTRIA AND GERMANY AND YOUāRE THE BEST AT GETTING RID OF SIN AND YOU FIGHT FOR THE WORD OF GOD THROUGH JUSTICE AND BROTHERLY LOVE AND YOUāLL BE IN OUR HEARTS AND WITH US EVERYWHERE FOREVER
Lina: I HAVE SO MUCH REMORSE AND ITāS ONLY MADE WORSE BECAUSE HEāS SUCH A GOOD PERSON
Stiffelio: EVERYONE THANK YOU BUT REALLY YOU SHOULD ONLY SING HYMNS TO GOD BESIDES THEN THEYāLL RING OUT ACROSS THE WHOLE WORLD
Friends and Congregation Members: WE DIDNāT HEAR WHAT YOU JUST SAID SO WEāRE GONNA KEEP SINGING OUR SONG
Raffaele: (His goodness should make me feel remorse, but...meh, it doesnāt. Besides, there is so much pleasure to be had!)
Stankar: His virtue should make Lina feel remorse...that and a father watching closely over her should do the trick.
*Lina collapses into a chair by the table; everyone else except Stiffelio follows Stankar into the next room.*
Stiffelio: She hasnāt said anything to me, or even looked at meā¦
Well, weāre alone together at last.
Lina: Rodolfo! Oh, sorry, forgive me: Iām still not accustomed to calling you by your real nameā¦
Rodolfo MĆ¼ller...that dear name you used when you first came to us...the first name I ever called you...when you were fleeing your persecutors and my father welcomed you into his home... **
Stiffelio: I was so unhappy without you!
Lina: But...out in the world, you had success, you must have had triumphs and pleasuresā¦
Stiffelio: Pleasures? Youāre sorely mistaken. You werenāt with me...so let me tell you what it was really like.
Everywhere I saw virtue being oppressed, young and old alike enslaved to depravity, greed reigning, justice mocked...in short, humanity adrift in a sea of sin.
Lina: THATāS HORRIBLE
Stiffelio: And worst of all, everywhere married women, who you know are supposed to be faithful and modest, were being unfaithful to their husbands--
Lina: Ah!
Stiffelio: I know. Iām sorry. Itās all so horrible...but I see you again and Iām reminded there is still faithfulness and goodness in this worldā¦
Lina: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING
Stiffelio: The truth, of course. But on the extreme off-chance I am ever betrayed like that, woe to the betrayer!
Lina: You are such a good personā¦
*she starts getting overwhelmed by emotion*
...and surely if that happened you would be forgiving?
Stiffelio: Well, no. Itās easy for a heart that hasnāt been broken to forgive, but in every soul there is a hidden treasure that no one can destroy without serious consequences. And for people who are married, that treasure is their faithfulness to one anotherā¦
*Lina, devastated for obvious reasons, starts sobbing.*
But youāre crying and shaking! Something is troubling you, I can tell. Please, whatever it is, just tell me. Talk to me.
Lina: Noā¦
Stiffelio: No? Then at least would you smile for me? Remember, today is a happy day; itās our wedding anniversary!
Lina: I knowā¦(this hurts too much!)
Stiffelio: Just think, today my mother looks down from Heaven and blesses usā¦
*He takes her hands in his.*
Today, her ringā¦
*He notices that she is not wearing the ring.*
wait, WHEREāS THE RING?!?!?!?!?!
Lina: OH NO
Stiffelio: ITāS NOT THERE YOU HAVE TO TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO IT
Lina: To the ring?
Stiffelio: YES IāM IMMEDIATELY GOING TO ASSUME YOU GAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR WHATEVER REASON SO WHO DID YOU GIVE IT TO
Lina: OH MY GOD THIS CANāT BE HAPPENING
Stiffelio: OH I CAN SEE YOUR REMORSE BECAUSE ITāS PRACTICALLY WRITTEN ON YOUR FACE AND YOUR SILENCE ONLY FURTHER PROVES THAT YOUāRE GUILTY OF SOMETHING ALTHOUGH I DONāT KNOW WHAT BUT IF I HAVE BEEN WRONGED MAY I BE STRUCK WITH LIGHTNING AND THEN SINK INTO THE GROUND AND HAVE ALL CREATION TURNED AGAINST ME
Lina: HIS ANGER TERRIFIES ME
*Stankar unexpectedly comes in.*
Stankar: MĆ¼ller?
Stiffelio: WHAT IS IT
Stankar: Your friends are waiting for you.
Stiffelio: CAN I GET A SINGLE MOMENT TO MYSELF AROUND HERE
Stankar: ...Why are you so angry?
Stiffelio: ...Forgive me. Letās go.
And as for you, Lina, I will be back soon. But if you have betrayed me...
Lina and Stankar: HIS ANGER REALLY TERRIFIES ME
*Stiffelio and Stankar leave.*
Lina: He said heād be back soon...Iām done for! How could I possibly explain this away? My remorse keeps me from saying anything, and besides, what could I even say? IāM A HORRIBLE PERSON AND IāVE BEEN BETRAYED AND NO ONE ON EARTH CAN SAVE ME FROM ALL THIS
MERCIFUL GOD SEE MY ANGUISH AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND LET HIM FORGIVE ME TOO OR ELSE LET ME PAY FOR MY SHAME WITH MY LIFE
Heāll be coming back...and Iāll have to answer him somehow! But how? What should I say? Should I go ahead and tell him everything? Well...no. Iāll tell him everything, but in a letter.
*She sits down and starts to write a letter.*
āRodolfoā¦ā AGH I CANāT DO THIS yes you can Lina you need to
*As she goes back to writing, Stankar comes back in.*
Stankar: I need to get to the bottom of all this.
*He sees Lina.*
Ah, there she is!
Lina: ...that isnāt right, this isnāt what I want to say or how to say itā¦
*Stankar approaches Lina slowly and suddenly places his hand on the letter.*
Stankar: A letter! Youāre writing to Raffaele again, arenāt you?
*He grabs the paper.*
Lina: WHAT NO
Stankar: Shut up.
*He starts to read the letter.*
āRodolfo, I am no longer worthy of you--ā
SO I WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU AND RAFFAELE HAVING AN AFFAIR
Lina: PLEASE I CANāT KEEP QUIET ABOUT THIS ANYMORE ITāS TOO MUCH TO BEAR
Stankar: Okay, first off: who breaks up with someone via letter???
Lina: Dad--Ā
Stankar: More importantly, IF STIFFELIO FINDS OUT ABOUT ALL THIS THEN HEāLL FALL INTO DESPAIR AND DIE ***
Lina: NO! Dear God, I want him to live, but I CANāT LIE TO HIM ABOUT THIS
Stankar: Fine. But tell him that youāre too weak to put your sin behind you and too afraid of your own guilt. Tell him that you think itās easier for YOU to tell him you betrayed him even though YOU KNOW IT WOULD KILL HIM.Ā
I mean, look at you: as if it werenāt enough that you committed adultery and risk bringing dishonor upon us all if anyone finds out about this, you have to go and be a coward as well!
Lina: DAD STOP
Stankar: Listen to me. You will save your husband. YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF HIS LOVE BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO KEEP UP APPEARANCES THAT EVERYTHING IS FINE OR ELSE WEāRE ALL RUINED
Lina: NO
Stankar: I AM YOUR FATHER YOU MUST OBEY ME ITāS EVEN IN THE BIBLE EXCEPT GIVEN RECENT EVENTS YOUāRE NOT PARTICULARLY GOOD AT FOLLOWING THAT
Lina: NO STOP IT
Stankar: BUT--
Lina: NEVER
Stankar: NEVER???
Lina: NEVER!!!
Stankar: NEVER?!?!?!?!
Lina: NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stankar: Well, consider this: in order to keep up appearances and save my own honor, you know what I have to do? Iāll have to keep all my anger and shame bottled up inside me and pretend everything is fine and still call you my daughter, even though I DESPISE YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE BROUGHT DISHONOR UPON ME
Lina: THIS IS HORRIBLE WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME SUFFER LIKE THIS WHEN IāVE REPENTED AND YOU CAN SEE ME CRYING AND ALSO I NEED TO POINT OUT THAT I DID NOT SIN OF MY OWN FREE WILL ****
Stankar: YOU DISHONORED ME AND I AM SO ASHAMED OF YOU
Lina: I DIDNāT DO IT WILLINGLY
Stankar: Enough. Stop your blubbering.
Lina: DAD NO STOP I CANāT
Stankar: You must.
Lina: BUT I CANāT
Stankar: LET ME REMIND YOU THAT YOU MUST OBEY ME
Lina: BUT I CANāT KEEP SILENT
Stankar: You must. It will be the one duty as a wife that you havenāt fucked up. And for your husbandās sake, you must keep it that way.
Lina: Fine. Iāll keep silent.
Stankar: Good.
Lina: (Who will help me???)
Stankar: Stop crying and come with me. No one, and I mean no one, must even suspect whatās happened with you and Raffaele. So letās bury the truth because our honor demands it, and if Stiffelio has lost your love...make sure he never knows. Let him have the love of his flock as consolation. But he especially must never know.
Lina: This is all too much...Iāve lost him forever...fine. Iāll stop crying and put on a happy face and pretend Iām not dying inside. But Iāve lost my husband forever, even though Iāve always loved him!
*They leave together. Raffaele enters, looking a little miffed.*
Raffaele: Everyoneās avoiding meeeeeeeeeee I donāt understand whyyyyyyyy (I mean, thereās no way that it could be because of my personality or behavior or anything) but I wanna have a rendez-vous with Lina so Iām gonna leave her a note!Ā
*He takes a note out of his pocket.*
Hereās the book. She and I are the only ones who have keys to it. Itās FOOLPROOF!
*He unlocks the book. Jorg approaches from the other side of the window.*
Jorg: ITāS TIME FOR A VIBE CHECK oh wait whatās this???
*He watches as Raffaele places the note inside the book and locks it.*
This does not pass the vibe check.
*Federico enters and Jorg continues watching.*
Federico: Raffaele?
Raffaele: Yello?
Federico: Oh hey, you have it. Klopstockās Messiah, right? Yeah. Uh...we need that book like right now. *****
Raffaele: oh shit i thought this was foolproof uhhhhh Raffaele play this cool
*Federico takes the book. He and Raffaele leave together as Jorg watches disapprovingly.*
Notes
Scene 2:
A reception hall in the castle, brightly lit and prepared for a party celebrating Stiffelioās return. The guests (friends of the family and members of the congregation) are mingling and having a good old time.
Guests: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY STIFFELIOāS BACK WEāRE SO HAPPY we really hope that everything here will be full of joy and peace and just as much love as he spreads to people because it makes everyone equal regardless of social class anyway LETāS ALL SING AND SHOW HIM HOW HAPPY WE ARE AND HOW MUCH WE LOVE HIM
*They move to the back of the hall as Jorg enters and finds Stiffelio.*
Stiffelio: Youāre late! Where were you?
Jorg: These parties are too worldly for me.
Stiffelio: Even an innocent celebration like this?Ā
Jorg: You think it may be innocent, but even something like this can be the cause of sin.
Guests: ...we really hope that everything here will be full of joy and peaceā¦
Stiffelio: Anyway, if youāre so scornful of these parties, then why are you here?
Jorg: I need to tell you something.
Stiffelio: What is it?
Jorg: I was going to do one of my vibe checks--
Stiffelio: What is a āvibe checkā?
Jorg: Iām older than you; how do you not know what a vibe check is?
Stiffelio: ...The point is?
Jorg: The point is that when I was going to do my vibe check, when I saw this guy place this note inside a book and lock it and he was obviously worried about getting caught--
Stiffelio: A note?Ā
Jorg: --and awaiting a reply to that note. I think there is some sin afoot.
Stiffelio: Oh God! Who?
*Lina, Raffaele, Dorotea, and Federico (who is carrying the book) enter with some friends.*
Jorg: The guy with the book, right there, talking to Lina.
Stiffelio: FEDERICO?!?! How do I confirm this?
Jorg: We can figure that out later.
*Stiffelio falls into deep thought.*
Dorotea: Hey, whatcha doinā there, Stiffelio? Planning your new sermon?
Federico: Weāre going to have a special meeting at the church tonight!
Guests: AND WEāLL ALL BE THERE TOO
Federico: Sneak preview- whatās the topic?
Stiffelio: Judasā betrayal.
Lina and Raffaele: oh friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick.
Federico: THATāS A GREAT TOPIC
Guests: YEAH BECAUSE THE WICKED WILL TREMBLE
Stiffelio: ...You want me to give a preview?
Guests: Sure!
Stiffelio: Alright, thenā¦
So in this sermon Iām planning, Iām going to talk about Judas, yes, but also more broadly. Iām going to condemn all betrayers. Especially the ones who use their cunning to be homewreckers, and ESPECIALLY the very ones who are oh so friendlyĀ and hold out their handĀ for you to your face while bragging about how theyāve betrayed you behind your back! And I will hurl a curse upon them-- the very curse of betrayers in that book!
*He grabs the book from Federico and unsuccessfully attempts to open it.*
Itās locked!
Dorotea: HEY I DONāT KNOW IF THIS HELPS AT ALL BUT LINA HAS A KEY TO THAT BOOK
Lina: OH GOD DOROTEA STOP
Stiffelio: OPEN IT THEN
Lina: you want me to WHAT
Stiffelio: I WANT YOU TO OPEN IT
Lina: ME???
Stiffelio: YOU CAN BE AFRAID ALL YOU WANT BUT THATāS NOT GONNA CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOUāRE GONNA UNLOCK THIS BOOK BECAUSE THERE IS DAMNING PROOF OF A BETRAYER LOCKED INSIDE
*Everyone freezes and internally panics.*
OKAY NOW IāM INTERNALLY PANICKING BECAUSE MY MIND IS GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND BECAUSE THEREāS SOME HORRIBLE SECRET INSIDE THAT BOOK
Everyone Else: WEāRE ALL INTERNALLY PANICKING NOW TOO BECAUSE ITāS ALMOST TOO TERRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HORRIBLE SECRET IS INSIDE THAT BOOK
Everyone: WHATEVER THIS SECRET IS ITāS GOING TO BE REALLY BAD AND PROBABLY RUIN PEOPLEāS LIVES
Stiffelio: You wonāt open it? Fine, Iāll go ahead and open it myself.
*He breaks the lock, opening the book. Raffaeleās note falls out of the book and onto the floor.*
A note!
Lina: (Oh God!)
*Stankar immediately grabs the note.*
Stankar: YOU DONāT HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ THIS AND YOUāRE NOT GONNA FIND OUT WHO WROTE IT OR TO WHOM IT WAS ADDRESSED
Stiffelio: I WANT THAT NOTE GIVE IT BACK
Stankar: I am an old man, so youād best treat me with some respect.
Stiffelio: GIVE IT BACK
Stankar: NO!
Stiffelio: GIVE IT BACK
Stankar: NO!!!!!!!
Stiffelio: I WILL NOT SAY THIS AGAIN GIVE IT--
Stankar: *ripping up the note* HOW ABOUT NOPE
Stiffelio: WHO WILL SAVE YOU FROM MY ANGER BECAUSE YOU ARE A HORRIBLE PERSON AND IāM REALLY REALLY ANGRY AND I CANāT HOLD MY ANGER BACK ANYMORE
Lina: *intervening* DONāT DO THIS TO MY FATHER IF YOU WANT TO GET REALLY REALLY ANGRY AT SOMEONE GET ANGRY AT ME ESPECIALLY BECAUSE MY FATHER IS OLD (no offense, Dad)
Stankar: *whispering* Raffaele, I officially challenge you to a duel tonight in the cemetery.
Raffaele: *whispering* CALM DOWN FOR FIVE SECONDSĀ
Stankar: Choose your weapons because we are going to fight, you traitor.
Raffaele: Iām not afraid of you, but you need to keep in mind who I am, mmākay?
Jorg, Dorotea, Federico, and Guests: EVERYTHING WAS GOING JUST FINE SO WHY DID A DEMON HAVE TO COME MAKE STIFFELIO BE SO SUSPICIOUS OF EVERYONE
Raffaele: Besides, you shouldnāt be calling me a traitor because Iām not a traitor.
Stankar: KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT BUT IT WONāT CHANGE ANYTHING
Guests: THIS IS JUST SO MESSED UP WHY WOULD ANYONE TRY TO MESS WITH STIFFELIO???
*Stiffelio and Jorg leave together through the doors on the right; Lina and Stankar leave together through the doors on the left; everyone else leaves through the doors in the middle of the back wall.*
Act II:
That night, at the castle cemetery. Center stage is a cross with several steps in front of it; to the left is a staircase leading to a church lit from within. At right in the distance is an entrance to the castle. The moon illuminates the graves, which are shaded by cypress trees. One of the graves looks more recent. Lina enters from the back.
Lina: Oh God, where am I? Something has brought me here...but what? Raffaele will be here...here??? This place is too awful! And I donāt want to meet him here, but I mustā¦
I CAN SEE WHAT IāVE DONE CARVED INTO EVERY GRAVESTONE AND THE WIND SOUNDS LIKE A VOICE CONDEMNING ME
*She wanders through the cemetery before stopping at one of the graves.*
My motherās grave! She was so pure and good...and I...MOTHER PLEASE HELP ME
Please, Iām begging you, take just a moment, look down on me from Heaven...and bring my tears to God, and add yours to them if blessed souls can still weep in paradise...because you are so good, for your sake God will not deny me His forgiveness! And thatās about the last hope I have.
*Raffaele enters.*
Raffaele: HI LINA
Lina: shhhhhhhhhhhh what are you doing besides I know my father is nearby and also my husband is suspicious and heās probably guessed most if not all of it--
Raffaele: He suspects only Federico because your father destroyed that note.
Lina: Do you have any sense of remorse whatsoever? Because Iāll probably have it for all eternity.
Raffaele: Iām acting in service of love; why should I be afraid of it?
Lina: I was caught unaware then; besides, you do realize that I do not love you and that I have never loved you, right?
Raffaele: BUT I LOVE YOU
Lina: If thatās true, then prove it. Give me back my wedding ring and my letters, leave at once, and never come within my sight again.
Raffaele: NO IāM NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP NEVER GONNA LET YOU DOWN--
Lina: THATāS NOT EVEN A GOOD SONG
Raffaele: IāM GONNA STAY HERE AND DEFEND YOU
Lina: LEAVE
Raffaele: NO IāM STAYING HERE WITH YOU
Lina: ONCE AGAIN, LEAVE
Raffaele: ONCE AGAIN, NO IāM STAYING HERE WITH YOU
Lina: OH SO YOU WANT TO DESTROY ME EVEN MORE AFTER IāVE BEEN HURT AND BETRAYED BECAUSE IF YOU STAY HERE THEN MY LIFE WILL JUST BE ME WEEPING UNTIL I DIE BUT EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONCE HAPPY AND YOU RUINED THAT I WILL BLESS YOU IF YOU LEAVE
Youāre still standing there, so Iām just going to say that all again in case you didnāt get the hint the first time.
OH SO YOU WANT TO DESTROY ME EVEN MORE AFTER IāVE BEEN HURT AND BETRAYED BECAUSE IF YOU STAY HERE THEN MY LIFE WILL JUST BE ME WEEPING UNTIL I DIE BUT EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONCE HAPPY AND YOU RUINED THAT I WILL BLESS YOU IF YOU LEAVE
Raffaele: NOPE IāM STAYING HERE
Lina: FINE THEN IāM GONNA TELL STIFFELIO EVERYTHING
*Unexpectedly, Stankar appears at the cemetery gate, holding two swords.*
Stankar: NO YOUāRE NOT
Lina: DAD--
Stankar: LEAVE
Lina: Dad, I can see in your eyes that--
Stankar: Obey.
*Lina leaves. Stankar throws off his cloak and presents the two swords.*
Choose one!
Raffaele: ...Are we having a duel?
Stankar: WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS THE ANSWER IS YES AND ITāS TO THE DEATH
Raffaele: I hate to say it (actually I donāt), but this aināt a fair fight.
Stankar: You refuse a duel challenge? Fine, Iāll insult you in front of everyone and God.
Raffaele: Well, Iām not afraid of your empty threats. Besides, Iāll win some respect for saving a man as old as you from meeting death in a duel.
Stankar: YOU ARE A COWARD AND A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE PERSON
...Youāre still not angry and offended enough to fight? Do you have any sense of honor whatsoever?
Raffaele: I am merely patient, sir. Perhaps you should take a tip.
Stankar: I AM SO PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW AND YOU ARE GOING TO LISTEN TO ME
Raffaele: Enough of this nonsense.
Stankar: Very well, I have only one more thing to say to you.Ā
If no insult of mine, not even calling you a coward, affects you in the slightest, then I still have one thing up my sleeve: I will make sure that everyone knows who you really are.
Raffaele: Enough of this, Stankar!
Stankar: You are an adventurer who seeks to hide the truth about yourself. You claim you are a Count, that you are of noble lineage...but I know that you are not a nobleman; you are nothing but a foundling!
Raffaele: THATāS IT GIVE ME A SWORD NOW
*He takes a sword.*
Stankar: AT LAST
Raffaele: EN GARDE
Stankar: TO THE DEATH
Stankar and Raffaele: TO THE DEATH THEN
*They get ready to fight.*
THERE IS NO DEMON OR GOD THAT CAN SAVE YOU FROM ME BECAUSE YOUR BLOOD AND MY ANGER ALONE CAN END THIS SHAME YOU HAVE INFLICTED UPON ME
*They start fighting, when all of a sudden, from the doors of the church:*
Stiffelio: WHATāS THAT NOISE
*He rushes down the stairs into the cemetery.*
A DUEL?!?!?!?!?! PUT DOWN YOUR SWORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stankar and Raffaele: STIFFELIO WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE
*They put down their swords.*
Stiffelio: Seriously, you two?
You are profaning sacred ground with your duel! Youāre trampling on hallowed graves with your feet and youāre even daring to fight with the cross standing above your heads!
Stankar: Fine. Weāll go finish this elsewhere.
Stiffelio: You know who else is going to be there, no matter where you go?
Stankar: ...I certainly hope not you.
Stiffelio: Wrong answer. I meant God.
Stankar and Raffaele: LEAVE US ALONE ONE OF US NEEDS TO DIE
Stiffelio: And as for your earlier comment, I too will know how to be wherever you may go in order to prevent further fighting.
Stankar: Have you forgotten to whom you are speaking? I am a nobleman and a decorated veteran and your father-in-law--
Stiffelio: And I am speaking in the name of God, so youād best both stop protesting and listen to me. Drop your weapons.
Whatever the reason for this duel may be, let it be forgotten; we must forgive each otherā¦
Stankar: NEVER
Stiffelio: Letās shake hands and forget and forgive all this. Raffaele, you are younger, so give me your handā¦
*He disarms Raffaele, who reluctantly holds out his hand so Stiffelio can take it.*
Stankar: WHAT AN UNPRECEDENTED INSULT RAFFAELE HOW DARE YOU TAKE THE HAND OF THE MAN YOU BETRAYED
Stiffelio: wait WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Stankar: OH FUCK DID I ACTUALLY JUST SAY THAT
Stiffelio: TELL ME WHAT YOU MEANĀ
Stankar: NO LEAVE ME ALONE AND FORGET THE LAST THIRTY SECONDS EVER HAPPENED
Stiffelio: I WANT TO KNOW TELL ME EVERYTHING
*And in spectacularly bad timing, Lina returns at that exact moment.*
Lina: I HEARD WEAPONS WHATāS GOING ON HERE
Stiffelio: THIS MYSTERY NEEDS TO BE SOLVED
Lina: OH GODĀ
Stankar and Raffaele: LINA WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE
Stiffelio: I WILL HAVE THE TRUTH AT LAST
Lina: FORGIVE ME RODOLFO
Stiffelio: ...Forgive you? Why?
*And then he looks at Raffaele and starts to put it all together.*
So it was that man whoā¦
Stankar: MĆ¼llerā¦
Stiffelio: SO IT WAS TRUE???
No...it canāt be...Lina, please, at least tell me itās a lie...say even one word and tell me it isnāt true...for mercyās sake, exonerate yourself, all you have to do is say a single wordā¦
*Lina, in despair and unable to exonerate herself for obvious reasons, remains silent.*
But you remain silent...you remain silent...OH GOD YOU ACTUALLY HAD AN AFFAIR WITH HIM AND I CANāT BELIEVE OTHERWISE ANYMORE AND NOW I WANT TO KILL YOU
Lina: I knew this would happen...it was waiting to burst over my head at any second...now the storm has comeā¦
Stankar: RAFFAELE GOD HAS WRITTEN YOUR FATE WITH MY DAUGHTERāS TEARS
Raffaele: Well, Iām ready to take whatever fate has in store for me.
Lina: THE REST OF MY LIFE IS JUST GOING TO BE A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH
Stankar: YOU ARE GUILTY OF SOMETHING HORRIBLE AND IT WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED ANY LONGER
Raffaele: So what are you waiting for?
Lina: GOD YOU ARE THE FATHER OF ALL WRETCHED SOULS PLEASE DO NOT DENY ME YOUR MERCY
Stiffelio: IāM STILL HOLDING OUT ON THE TINIEST SCRAP OF HOPE LINA PLEASE TELL ME ITāS A LIE
Raffaele: STANKAR YOUāRE GOING TO LEARN THAT IāM NOT A COWARD
Stankar: YOUāRE VERY LUCKY THAT ALL THIS SAVED ME FROM KILLING YOU FOR THE MOMENT BUT MY WRATH IS ONLY GOING TO COME DOWN ON YOU EVEN STRONGER FOR IT
Stiffelio: OH GOD YOU ACTUALLY HAD AN AFFAIR WITH HIM AND I CANāT BELIEVE OTHERWISE ANYMORE AND NOW I WANT TO KILL YOU
Lina: DEAR GOD PLEASE DO NOT DENY ME YOUR MERCY
Stankar: You need to understand that Lina is not the one you need to punish here.
Stiffelio: OH I KNOW WHOāS THE GUILTY ONE HERE AND I SEE THAT YOU WERE JUST TRYING TO AVENGE MY HONOR
*He grabs Stankarās sword.*
ENOUGH OF THIS RAFFAELE TAKE YOUR SWORD
Raffaele: Against YOU????? I DONāT WANT TO
Stiffelio: DEFEND YOURSELF
Raffaele: I DONāT WANNA
Stiffelio: DO YOU NOT HEAR THE DEAD CRYING OUT AT YOU??? TREMBLE YOU TRAITOR BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHAT YOUāVE DONE AND YOUR TIME HAS COME
*He makes to stab Raffaele but the congregation starts singing from within the church. At that moment, Jorg steps out from the church.*
Congregation Members: O LORD DO NOT PUNISH ME IN YOUR ANGER OR ELSE I WILL BE DONE FORā¦
Jorg: Stiffelio?
*Stiffelio lets the sword fall from his hands.*
Stiffelio: Whatās that sound?
Jorg: *coming over to him* Thatās your congregation.
Congregation Members: ...HAVE MERCY ON ME AND I WILL SING YOUR PRAISES FOREVER
Stiffelio: ...What do they want?
Jorg: Theyāre asking for comfort.
Stiffelio: Comfort?
Jorg: Come back to your senses.
Stiffelio: *almost delirious* IāM IN DESPAIR AND IāM BURNING WITH A FURY THAT CAN ONLY COME FROM HELL QUICK SOMEONE PUT A CALM AND COLD HAND ON ME BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THATāS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN STOP IT SO MAKE MY VEINS WITHER AND MY BLOOD TURN COLD AND ONLY THEN CAN MY STRENGTH OVERCOME IT ALL BUT ALSO IāLL PROBABLY BE DEAD BY THAT POINT SO EVERYONE JUST LEAVE ME BECAUSE MY HEART HAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED
Congregation Members: *still singing inside the church* Dear Lord, do not punish me in Your angerā¦
Jorg: Do you not hear them?
Congregation Members: ...or I shall melt away as mists before the sunā¦
Stiffelio, Lina, and Stankar: This is all too horribleā¦
Congregation Members: ...have mercy on me, Lord...
Jorg: Lift up your thoughts to God and remember who you are!
Congregation Members: ...and I will sing Your praises forever!
*They continue singing these lines for the remainder of the act.*
Stiffelio: ...I am a minister!
*He kneels.*
Dear God, I donāt know what Iām going to say to them anymore, inspire me, tell me what I should speak about tomorrowā¦
Lina, Stankar, Raffaele, and Jorg: About peace and forgivenessā¦
Stiffelio: *rising* About FORGIVENESS??? NEVER!!! LET THE ADULTERESS BE DAMNED
Lina, Stankar, and Raffaele: OH GOD
*Lina collapses at Stiffelioās feet as Jorg climbs up the central steps.*
Jorg: Stiffelio, remember, by this cross Christ forgave all humanity.
*Stiffelio staggers towards the cross.*
Stiffelio: The cross...my blood is turning cold...Iām dyingā¦
*He faints.*
Lina, Stankar, Raffaele, and Jorg: Poor soul!
Act III:
Scene 1:
The next morning. An antechamber with doors to several other rooms. There is a table, on which are placed two pistols and writing utensils. Stankar enters while reading a letter.
Stankar: Heās FLED?! And as if THAT werenāt enough, HE WROTE LINA THIS LETTER TO TRY TO GET HER TO FOLLOW HIM AND NOW HEāS ESCAPED MY REVENGE
*He picks up his sword.*
You were at my side for so many years and you won me glory in all my battles, but GET AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE I AM NO LONGER WORTHY OF YOU
*He throws it to the ground.*
IāM NO LONGER WORTHY OF YOU BECAUSE I AM DISHONOREDĀ
...And what is life without honor? Itās a DISGRACE SO LET ME TAKE MY OWN LIFE AND LET IT ALL BE OVER IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE
*He picks up one of the pistols to shoot himself, but stops.*
But to leave everything and everyone behind...Stiffelio...my daughter...my guilty daughter!Ā
*He starts crying.*
A tear? In MY eyes? The eyes of a SOLDIER??? The fact that Iām even crying...thatās all you need to know about how great my sorrow isā¦
Lina, I thought that when you were born, Heaven had sent me an angel, a ray of sunshine, the purest kind of love to comfort me in my old age...but it was all a dream, a foolish dream! And now all the joy I once had in my life is gone!Ā
When I lie dying someday, the righteous wonāt weep for me... all that will follow my coffin is dishonor! Now let me end it all!
*He sits down and starts to write a suicide note.*
Farewell, Stiffelio! Farewell foreverā¦
*He finishes the note and picks up the pistol once again. Jorg enters.*
Jorg: TIME FOR ANOTHER VIBE CHECK
Stankar: CANāT YOU SEE IāM IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING
*He puts the pistol down.*
Jorg: ...That does not pass the vibe check. Anyway, I was just stopping by to ask you where Stiffelio is.
Stankar: Heās in his room and he doesnāt want to see anyone.
Jorg: Well, he will when I tell him that I found Raffaele--
Stankar: wait WHAT
Jorg: --and heāll be here shortly.
*He goes into Stiffelioās room.*
Stankar: Heāll be here shortly??? HEāLL BE HERE SHORTLY??? HEāLL BE COMING HERE!!! Well then, one of us will die here today!!!
I FEEL SO MUCH JOY THAT I CANNOT EXPRESS AND MY HEART IS BEATING TOO QUICKLY AND I FEEL SO ECSTATIC THAT I MIGHT BE LOSING MY MIND AND I CAN BARELY BREATHE BUT OH WHAT JOY BECAUSE REVENGE IS SO CLOSE I CAN FEEL IT AND I WILL BE REBORN
*He leaves. Stiffelio enters from his room with Jorg close behind.*
Stiffelio: Tell everyone I will be at church shortly. Now leave, please.
Jorg: Heās here.
*He leaves. Raffaele enters.*
Raffaele: Well, this is awkward...you wanted to see me?
Stiffelio: Yes.
Raffele: Go ahead, I know youāre going to read me the riot act--
Stiffelio: Not a word.
Raffaele: Uh, well, then, if you want revenge, then I guess go ahead and take it.
Stiffelio: I have only brought you here to ask you a single question.
Raffaele: Uh...what is it?
Stiffelio: My question is: what would you do if Lina were free to marry?
Raffaele: What are you saying?!
Stiffelio: I asked you a question. Answer it.
Raffaele: Um...isnāt that kinda impossible??? **
Stiffelio: Fritz!
*Fritz the loveable non-singing servant makes his only onstage appearance.*
Please tell Lina that I am waiting here and would like to see her.
*Fritz leaves and thus disappears from the opera.*
Raffaele: What are you trying to find out here?
Stiffelio: Oh, just whether your libertine lifestyle or the future of the woman you have ruined is more important to you, thatās all.
*pointing to one of the doors* Go into that room and you will hear everything you need to know.
Raffaele: (oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.)
*He complies. Lina enters.*
Stiffelio: Given that weāre parting ways, we need to have this conversation.
Lina: Youāre leaving?
Stiffelio: Tonight.Ā
Lina: But why?
Stiffelio: Listen.
From this point forward, we must go our separate ways. I have resigned myself to my way: I will go down my path and live only for God. Your way must be to marry the man you have chosen and save yourself from dishonor.
Lina: What are you saying?
Stiffelio: When we were married, I was being persecuted everywhere, so I signed the marital contract under an assumed name. Under the law, this means that our marriage can be dissolved. And here is what will do it. ***
*He presents her with a bill of divorce.*
Lina: OH MY GOD WEāRE GETTING A DIVORCE?!?!?!?!?!
Stiffelio: Iāve already signed it. Sign your name next to mine.
Lina: RODOLFO I KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO GET A FATAL BLOW HERE BUT I THOUGHT THAT I WAS AT BARE MINIMUM WORTHY OF REPROACH BUT INSTEAD ALL I GET FROM YOU IS HORRIBLE BITTER CONTEMPT SO GO AHEAD AND KILL ME BECAUSE I WOULD DIE FOR YOUR LOVE
*She starts sobbing.*
Stiffelio: Oh, I see. You hoped that by crying, you would make me less upset. You really thought that it could make everyone forget what youāve done? You really thought that it would make me not care about the dishonor you have brought upon us and welcome you back? Well, YOUāRE WRONG BECAUSE OFFENSES TO HONOR LAST AS LONG AS OUR VERY SOULS
Lina: FINE GIVE ME THAT PAPER
*She takes the bill of divorce from him and sits down at the table.*
Stiffelio: Youāre signing it?
Lina: Yes.
Stiffelio: After all that...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!
*Lina signs the bill and hands it to him.*
Lina: You thought my tears were insincere. Here is the proof that they are not: I would rather divorce you and convince you of my sincerity than not divorce you and you live the rest of your life not knowing the truth. We are both free now and there is nothing between us anymore. Now I can tell youā¦
*Stiffelio turns to leave.*
No, listen!
Stiffelio: NO MORE OF THIS
Lina: I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME
*She holds him back from leaving.*
Now I turn to you, not as my husband, but as a minister, because even sinners and criminals can be welcomed into heaven...and I beg you to listen to me, not as your wife, but as a sinner.
Stiffelio: PLEASE JUST GO
Lina: NO LET ME CONFESS EVERYTHING
*She throws herself at his feet.*
Stiffelio: What? You? What am I going to hear?
Lina: What my husband did not want to hear.
My husband offered an agreement to make me the wife of another man...as if I could ever find any peace in this world after losing him...as if I would be fine with paying that price just to regain my honor...AS IF I COULD LIVE KNOWING THAT HE DESPISES MEā¦
Stiffelio: Enough of this, pleaseā¦
Lina: To be the wife of another man! So you donāt understand how much I love you--
Stiffelio: LOVE??? What do you MEAN, āLOVEā???
Lina: I have always loved you--
Stiffelio: What are you saying???
Lina: I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED YOU--
Stiffelio: WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING???
Lina: --AND I STILL LOVE YOU!!! And I call upon God as my witness.
Stiffelio: BUT WHAT ABOUT RAFFAELE
Lina: HE BETRAYED ME
Stiffelio: HE BETRAYED YOU???
Lina: YES
Stiffelio: WELL LET HIM DIE THEN AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO KILL HIM--
Lina: OH MY GOD
Stiffelio: HEāS IN THERE--
*He goes towards the room where Raffaele was, but at that moment, Stankar emerges from the room, holding a sword covered in blood.*
Stankar: He is no more.
Lina: wait WHAT
*Jorg enters from another door.*
Jorg: DID YOU MURDER HIM
Stiffelio: WERE YOU TWO DUELING AGAIN
Stankar: I made him atone for what heās done. Besides, he could have revealed everything to everyone else and now he canāt do that because heās dead.
*He leaves.*
Jorg: Come with me to the church; youāll find strength thereā¦
Stiffelio: YES LETāS GO THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE ALL THIS PLACE HAS ARE SIN AND DEATH LET IT STAND AS AN EXAMPLE TO ALL SEDUCERS ABOUT HOW THEIR ACTIONS CAN RUIN LIVES BECAUSE GOD HAS CURSED THIS PLACE AND STRUCK IT WITH DISGRACE
Lina: NO ONE ON EARTH CAN EASE MY SORROW AND I WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN FOR THIS PLEASE MERCIFUL GOD GIVE ME YOUR FORGIVENESS IāM BEGGING YOU FROM MY HEART WHICH NEVER SINNED BECAUSE I DIDNāT WANT ANY OF THIS
Stiffelio: GOD HAS CURSED THIS PLACE AND STRUCK IT WITH DISGRACE
Lina: I WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT SIN OF MY OWN FREE WILL
*Stiffelio is led out by Jorg; Lina goes into one of the rooms.*
WARNING:
If you have not seen this opera, I strongly recommend that you stop here and click on āScene 2ā³ right below this, which will take you to a video of the final scene, and then watch it. DO NOT READ AHEAD. If you do before watching the scene, do not pass go, do not collect $200, go straight to Monopoly Jail.
But seriously, if youāre unfamiliar with this opera, do NOT read the final scene before you watch it. You will thank me later.
Scene 2:
Later that morning. The interior of the castle church, in the Gothic style. A pulpit stands at center with a staircase leading up to it. The congregation enters little by little as an organ plays. Federico and Dorotea enter. Then Lina, covered by a veil, enters at right; Stankar enters at left. Everyone kneels and begins to sing.
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Dear Lord, do not punish me in Your angerā¦
Lina: Dear God, I place my trust in You; have mercy on me...
Stankar: I have killed the man who dishonored meā¦
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: ...or I shall melt away as mists before the sunā¦
Lina: ...do not deny me Your goodness...
Stankar: ...in order to save the honor You gave me...
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members:Ā ...have mercy on me, Lord...
Lina: ...God have mercy on me...
Stankar: ...God forgive me...
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: ...and I will sing Your praises forever!
Lina: ...do not deny me Your goodness!
Stankar: ...as You once forgave the repentant David!
Lina, Stankar, Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Do not punish us! Have mercy on us, O Lord!
*Stiffelio and Jorg enter the church from the right, wearing their black ministerial attire. Stiffelio is carrying the Bible. *
Jorg: You there, Stiffelio?
Stiffelio: Iām here.
Lina: (Iāll hear him speak again!)
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Have mercyā¦
Stiffelio: *passing by Lina and not recognizing her* Whoās that woman?
Lina: (He didnāt recognize me!)
Stiffelio: Jorg, please, stay here.
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Have mercyā¦
Jorg: Take heart. Everyone here is placing their hopes in you.
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Have mercyā¦
*Lina lifts her veil.*
Stiffelio: (Oh God!)
Jorg: What is it?
Stiffelio: Sheās hereā¦
Jorg: Remember where you are. Have courage.
Stiffelio: Alrightā¦
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Have mercyā¦
Stiffelio: ...But everything is just all mixed up in my head and my thoughts escape me...
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Have mercyā¦
Jorg: Go up there, open the Bible to a random page, and just talk about whatever you open it up to. God will inspire you.
Stiffelio: Alright, thatās a good idea.
Jorg: Take heart.
Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: Have mercyā¦
*Stiffelio climbs the staircase and takes his place at the pulpit, doing as Jorg told him. Once he has opened the Bible, he begins to read in a trembling voice.*
Stiffelio: āThen Jesus turned to the assembled people and pointed to the adulteress who was at His feet, and spoke thus:...ā ****
Lina: (Oh God!)
Stiffelio: āāLet him among you who has never sinned cast the first stoneā¦āā
Jorg: What are you saying?
Lina: (Is he going to finish?)
Stiffelio: āAnd the woman...the woman...arose, forgiven.ā
Jorg: Stiffelio, what are you doing?
Lina: OH GOD
*She collapses in front of the pulpit and Stiffelio places his hand on the Bible.*
Stiffelio: Forgiven...forgiven...GOD HAS SPOKEN SHE IS FORGIVEN
Stiffelio, Stankar, Jorg, Federico, Dorotea, and Congregation Members: GOD HIMSELF HAS PRONOUNCED IT SHE IS FORGIVEN
*Lina stands up and lifts her hands.*
Lina: THANKS BE TO GOD
*General thanksgiving.*
Notes
THE END
Up Next: I was supposed to make my grand return with Faust, but this opera has been on my mind virtually nonstop recently, so this is my attempt to get it out of my head (success: debatable). However, unless I have this problem again, Faust will be up next. :)
Good morning! There are so many new projects that I started a while ago. I hope I can finish this week any of them ... So I will share with you the new creations truly spectacular and never seen. #news #shoes #shoemaker #art #patina #painting #colors #shades #patern #summer #fall #dapper #dandy #combray #merkel #college #street #fashionweek #milan #Š½ŠµŠ“ŠµŠ»ŃŠ¼Š¾Š“Ń #Š¾Š±ŃŠ²ŃŠ½Š°Š·Š°ŠŗŠ°Š· #stiffelio
okay this is going to sound terrible and iām sorry but:
a) i did not realize gregory kunde was that old (iām sure heās still fantastic; this is more about my next point), and relatedly,
b) there is a FORTY-TWO YEAR AGE GAP between our two leads (who, for those unfamiliar with the opera, are a married couple; granted, nothing in the libretto specifies their ages and lord knows that particularly in religious communities like the one in this opera, marriages with wide age gaps often happen, but still!). gregory kunde is 71. lidia fridman is 29.
