Stiffelio Libretto in Three Acts

Composed withRigoletto, and sharing many of its characteristics,Stiffeliosuffered from the censors' srtictures. From its premiere in 1850, its text was diluted to appease the authorities. The story of Stiffelio, a protestant minister who eventually divorces his adulterous wife but forgives her from the pulpit in the final scene, shocked conservative Italian religious and political powers. The libretto was rewritten for subsequent revivals, and even some music was dropped. In 1856 the composer angrily withdrewStiffeliofrom circulation, reusing parts of the score for hisAroldo. The rest was presumed lost.In 1992 it was revealed that Verdi's heirs possessed not only most of the canceled score, but also sixty pages of sketches forStiffelio. These were used in 1993 at New York's Metropolitan Opera. Performed for the first time as Verdi wrote it.Stiffeliohas been enthusiastically received around the world.With the publication of the critical edition, the first full orchestral score,Stiffelioshould take its rightful place in the Verdi canon.Verdi, Giuseppe is the author of 'Stiffelio Libretto in Three Acts', published 2003 under ISBN 9780226853192 and ISBN 0226853195.