Otello Cage Match: Iago's Credo pt 1 Ruffo vs Tibbett

[TomRexdale]

In over 49 years of going to the opera and over 50 years of collecting records i have NEVER heard a better rendition of this than that of Titta Ruffo--i also knew a number of people who heard him in person--my two late friends Enzo DellOrefice and Solon Alberti even accompanied him on tour--to have heard him in person --do you know he actually commanded a higher fee than Caruso for a time especially in South America--this in the days before amplification --wonder why?? For the Credo he"s my man!

[Beth29252]

What a treat, two opera giants singing one of the all-time great baritone arias.Tibbett does sing it wonderfully, with a suitably dark intensity to his voice, but for me Ruffo was a revelation. I did find his intonation more secure as well, there were occasional moments where Tibbett was flat, he had brilliant musicality, I felt his diction was clearer and the whole performance was evil incarnate. For me though, Cappuccilli owns this aria, with Milnes close behind.

[diarci]

Were considered? They both still are considered the premier batitones of all time.

[nickditoro]

@baritonoguapo, I enjoyed listening to both of these men. I wanted to point out that the year you show for Tibbett's death, 1950, is incorrect:

1. Titta Ruffo (1877-1953)

2. Lawrence Tibbett (1896-1950)

He died July 15, 1960.

Thanks,

Nick

[MrSkylark1]

The personification of evil and the frightening power of Iago is heard from Ruffo. With Tibbett another point of view, easily visualized on the stage from the dynamics in 'his interpretation. Danise another artist to consider.

[MrSkylark1]

The personification of evil and the frightening power of Iago is heard from Ruffo. With Tibbett another point of view, easily visualized on the stage from the dynamics in 'his interpretation

[librarybob1958]

Tibbett is terrific, especially in this live from the Met (presumably) performance, but Ruffo blows ALL of them out of the water. His Iago is nothing less than evil incarnate.

[DonPaolissimo]

I lobe Tibbett's gorgeous tones, but he's no match for Ruffo's effective roaring - this Iago ain't just kidding around!!!!

[alber6161]

Tibbet is huge, but Ruffo is a miracle of Nature!!

[65attila]

baritonoguapo

Thank you- these Cage Match videos are musically tremendous and historically important and interesting.

Regards-John

[bodiloto]

tutti due sublimi, insuperabili, immortali ! grazie ,grazie,grazie !

[nog55]

Tibbett sings this brilliantly except, for the slight reverberation I can always hear in his voice which always spoils it for me. Of course as someone else commented, its unfair to compare any baritone to Ruffo,in his prime incomparable.For me he would always be in my top 5 singers of any type ever!

[rbt04]

Ruffo

[raphabenbenjamin]

Ruffo vs. Stracciari.... with Ruffo the more "animalistic" and Stracciari the more elegant. Rosa Ponselle said of Stracciari, "now that is a baritone."

[primobaritono]

Comparing any baritone to Ruffo is unfair right off the bat. Ruffo had the greatest baritone voice from nature, Tibbett was an artist that had to cultivate and develop his voice for a long time inorder to make it into that glorious instrument that it became. Tibbett said himself his voice was nothing special till he was 23, then it took off. Ruffo was running around the streets of Rome at age 15 waking up the neighborhood with his enormous talent.

[GermanOperaSinger]

Ruffo for sure. Even at the lowest volume his voice actually HURTS my ears. For some reason Ruffo has always had this effect on me.

[janiscortese]

Both magnificent, but Ruffo's got an unmistakable "ring" in his voice I've only ever heard in a very few voices, mostly tenors actually. Ruffo for the knockout. :-)

I think he suits Iago a bit better, too -- not as dark as Tibbett, but I've always seen Iago as a somewhat narrow, trapdoor-spider, a lightfooted villain and a bit scarier for it. Tibbett I can see as Don Pizarro, maybe.

[linodimitrov]

Ruffo

[jacquesurlus]

Ruffo, mais Tibbet a laissé un meilleur credo

en 1938 live avec Martinelli et Rethberg dirigé par Panizza au Met.

[34fgsfgsdtu48w7qtaqt]

Ruffo.

[rachellmaie]

ruffo.

[tenorfourlife]

I like Ruffo better! The tone is more rich than Tibbet's BUT Tibbet's voice is probably better for the role!

[poolatkigali]

Ruffo

[ciroalb3]

listen to John Charles Thomas in this. More menacing than Tibbett

[meltzerboy]

These are two giants and it is difficult to choose. Tibbett is superb but Ruffo is unique, with his golden and bronzed tone, his ability to color and shade his voice, and the intensity of his delivery. One palpably feels the evil and despair of Iago.

A Gobbi and Merrill comparison would be interesting I think. Thank you for your wonderful postings.