After the triumphant success of Fedora, in 1899 Umberto Giordano was looking for a new libretto to put to music. In the end, on the advice of Luigi Illica, he chose Siberia, at which the playwright was then working. Giordano and the editor Sonzogno signed the contract for the new opera in March 1900 and Siberia, which was completed in the summer/autumn of 1903, was performed for the first time at Milan’s La Scala on 19th December of the same year. The audiences’ response was quite warm, but the greatest praise came from the critics: among the many, enthusiastic appraisals was that of Fauré, who defined Siberia ”inspired by generous thinking and profound sensitivity”.

Artists

Francesca Scaini (Stephana), Jeong-Won Lee (Vassili), Vittorio Vitelli (Gleby), Eufemia Tufano (Nikona), Annalisa Carbonara (Una fanciulla), Nicola Sette (Il principe Alexis), Domingo Stasi (Ivan), Giulio Mastronataro (Minskinkij), Pietro Naviglio (Walinoff)

Bratislava Chamber Choir, Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia, Manlio Benzi