Opera title: | Otello |
Composer: | Giuseppe Verdi |
Language: | Italian |
Synopsis: | Otello Synopsis |
Libretto: | Otello Libretto |
Translation(s): | English Deutsch |
Type: | aria |
Role(s): | Iago |
Voice(s): | Baritone |
Act: | 2.03 |
| Previous scene: | Vanne la tua meta gia vedo |
| Next scene: | Eccola Cassio a te |
The first-rate baritone Earnest Symmons sings Iago's Credo from Otello. He began formal training at age 5, at age 7 he won the 1 st place medal as a boy soprano in Victoria Canada.
Afterwards he continued his studies along with giving recitals in Canada until age 20 when he moved to New York and began to study with Frank La Forge, who was also Lawrence Tibbett's teacher. Symmons met Tibbett when he was twenty and received the autograph which is shown in this vid. Unfortunately his professional singing career never took hold, he did however stand in for Guiseppe De Luca as Amonasro in Aida at one point.
This Credo was recorded in the early 1930's when Symmons was in his early twenties.
His son Mike is also on youtube under the name operalament.
Enjoy this wonderful baritone!
JAGO
allontanandosi dal verone seza più guardar Cassio che sarà scomparso fra gli alberi
Credo in un Dio crudel che m'ha creato
simile a sè e che nell'ira io nomo.
Dalla viltà d'un germe o d'un atòmo
vile son nato.
Son scellerato
perchè son uomo;
e sento il fango originario in me.
Sì! questa è la mia fe'!
Credo con fermo cuor, siccome crede
la vedovella al tempio,
che il mal ch'io penso e che da me procede,
per il mio destino adempio.
Credo che il guisto è un istrion beffardo,
e nel viso e nel cuor,
che tutto è in lui bugiardo:
lagrima, bacio, sguardo,
sacrificio ed onor.
E credo l'uom gioco d'iniqua sorte
dal germe della culla
al verme dell'avel.
Vien dopo tanta irrision la Morte.
E poi? E poi? La Morte è il Nulla.
è vecchia fola il Ciel.
Si vede passare nel giardino Desdemona con Emilia. Jago si slacia al verone, al di là del quale è appostato
IAGO
(walking away from the terrace without another glance
at Cassio, who has now vanished among the trees)
I believe in a cruel God
who created me in his image
and who in fury I name.
From the very vileness of a germ
or an atom, vile was I born.
I am a wretch because I am a man,
and I feel within me the primeval slime.
Yes! This is my creed!
I believe with a heart as steadfast
as that of the widow in church,
that the evil I think
and that which I perform
I think and do by destiny’s decree.
I believe the just man to be a mocking actor
in face and heart;
that all his being is a lie,
tear, kiss, glance,
sacrifice and honour.
And I believe man the sport of evil fate
from the germ of the cradle
to the worm of the grave.
After all this mockery then comes Death.
And then?... And then?
Death is nothingness,
heaven an old wives’ tale.
(Desdemona appears, walking in the garden with Emilia.
Iago darts to the terrace, on the other side of which
Cassio is standing.)

Titta Ruffo
| Sheetmusic for aria | |
| Sheetmusic for opera | |
| MP3's for this aria | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |