Otello Cage Match: Iago's Credo pt. 4 Cappuccilli vs Milnes

Piero Cappuccilli was the leading Verdi baritone in Europe at the same that Sherrill Milnes was the leading Verdi baritone in the U.S. While Milnes made numerous travels abroad, Cappuccilli rarely performed in the Americas. Luckily, both have left a large recorded legacy. For the record, my vote goes to Cappuccilli. His interpretation of this aria is among the very best, IMO.

1. Piero Cappuccilli (1929-2005)
2. Sherrill Milnes (b. 1936)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Verdi
• Otello
• Opera
• Jago
• Baritone
• Credo
• in
• un
• dio
• crudel
• vanne
• capuccili
• cappucilli
• cappuccili
• milnes
• merrill
• gobbi

[Krawi6]

I just can repeat what I said some time ago. Cappuccilli is much better than Milnes.

I am interested where these part a taken from?

Cappuccilli from la Scala with Carlos Kleiber?

Milnes from a performance at la Met?

[baritonoguapo]

The Milnes excerpt is taken from the 1978 Levine recording with Domingo and Scotto. You are right about the Cappuccilli excerpt.

[raigekimaru]

both were amazing but they seriously need to work on their evil laughs.

[baritonoguapo]

My favourite evil laugh is Louis Quilico's. He's on the response, part 5.

[tedeschi11]

Cappuccilli! Cappuccilli! Cappuccilli!

[leadoffeohippus]

I'm a huge Milnes fan, but I mean...Cappuccilli is the best Iago ever...he was the best in this role.

[2002obie]

Cappuccilli

[Beth29252]

Both do splendid jobs with a truly blasphemous and chilling aria, but for me Cappuccilli wins overall as in my opinion he owns this aria and role. The beginning especially has such intense character that draws you right in, and the tuning is a little more secure here too. Milnes however is another one of my favourite Iagos and his rendition is also intense and sadistic. When it comes to the evil laughs, neither amazed me but Milnes' was better for me.But his one on the vaimusic clip was freakier

[Peppi94]

Milnes!!! Always Milnes!!!!

[HeldenB]

Absolutely! That's why he had such a freaky top. He started out as a rather nasal tenor (by his own admission). Have you heard his speaking voice? High, slighty whiny and nasal.....definitely not a real baritone throat. He did some great things in his glory decade though..in the high lyric baritone rep. but I've always thought he damaged himself trying to "manufacture"' a dramatic verdian baritone...with all that hooking and pushing.

[HeldenB]

Cappuccilli by a mile!

[egymagyar1111111]

remember, Jago by Milnes is a devilish figure,but we must know tha last scene, where he is a covard and run away from Othello's sword, Jago is a disgusting figure, envious of Othello's success, and by his mockery and other attitudes gain territory for short term, Milnes is showing a devilish straighforward evil figure, by Shakespeare Jago is a smalltime crook

[tenorismo]

No contest. Milnes couldent carry carry Cappuccillis music .

[Ejettore]

Non credo si debba stabilire chi sia in più verdiano, perche Jago non è un tipico baritono verdiano. Cappuccilli ha un voce piuttosto asciutta da baritono "cattivo",quindi, anche se Milnes non è affatto male, Cappuccilli è quasi insuperabile come Jago. Per un "Conte di Luna" o per un "Re Carlo" in Ernani le cose andrebbero diversamente.

[bodiloto]

vinay,nikolov,giacomini avvevano voci piu scure  di questi due " baritoni" ,grazie !

[Arsace88]

I totally agree with you!