| Information Mp3s Sheetmusic | Giuseppe VerdiOtelloOpera 1887.Opera in 4 acts. After Shakespeare's play. |
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Otello is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play Othello. It was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 5, 1887.
Critical Evaluation of the OperaMost music critics consider "Otello" Verdi's greatest and most mature tragic opera. In it, he tried to do away with the traditional recitative-aria structure of opera, much as Richard Wagner had done, except that in some cases, the distinction between recitative and aria is more clearcut in "Otello" than in any of Wagner's operas. Verdi's librettist, Arrigo Boito, was extremely faithful to Shakespeare's original play, except for the omission of Act I of the drama (everything having to do with Brabantio, Desdemona's father). The roles of Otello (Othello) and Iago are among the most fully developed in all of opera, almost as much so as in Shakespeare's original drama - especially the character of Otello himself (Iago is more of an out-and-out villain in the opera). Verdi raises his orchestral writing to new heights in this opera, using the orchestra almost as a participant in the story, instead of merely as accompaniment. For example, the orchestral writing helps reveal the depth of evil in Iago - an evil possibly rivaled by only one other character in Italian opera: Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca. The three leading roles in the opera are among Verdi's most demanding, both as singing and as acting roles. Some of the world's greatest tenors have sung the role of Otello, among them the role's incomparable creator, Francesco Tamagno, as well as Francisco Vinas, Antonio Paoli, Giovanni Zenatello, Renato Zanelli, Giovanni Martinelli, Leo Slezak, Ramón Vinay, Mario del Monaco, James McCracken, and Jon Vickers. (The mighty Enrico Caruso was studying the role, but sadly, his premature death in 1921, at the age of 48, prevented him from performing it on stage.) In our time, Plácido Domingo has appeared in more video productions of the opera than any other tenor. Many consider Domingo the definitive modern-day Otello, though his voice lacks the extreme power and ringing tone of such great predecessors as Tamagno or Zenatello (who sang the Moor more than 300 times). The potent singer–actor José Cura is also in demand around the world today for his interpretation of the Moor, not only musically but also dramatically. A long succession of outstanding baritones have sung Iago. They include, among many others, Victor Maurel, the first Iago in 1887, as well as Mattia Battistini, Antonio Scotti, Titta Ruffo, Lawrence Tibbett, Robert Merrill, Tito Gobbi, and Sherrill Milnes. Numerous top lyric sopranos have undertaken the role of Desdemona - far too many to name here. The celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini's 1947 radio broadcast of the opera, starring Herva Nelli, Ramón Vinay, and Giuseppe Valdengo, is considered to be one of the Maestro's greatest performances and has been released on LP and CD. Roles
SynopsisA summary of the plot of Otello is detailed below. [3]
Act IIn front of the castle, next to the harbor It is night and storm is raging. The people of the town are anxiously waiting for the arrival of the new governor, Otello from the battle with the Turks (Chorus, Montana, Cassio, Iago, Roderigo: Una vela! Una vela! - "A sail! Jubilation!"). Otello arrives safely and announces that the Turkish fleet has been destroyed, and the Cypriots cheer (Otello, chorus: Esultate! L’orgoglio musulmano). Otello’s ensign, Iago tells the young Venetian gentlemen, Roderigo that he knows Roderigo loves Desdemona and wants to help, for he hates Otello (Iago, Roderigo: Roderigo, ebben che pensi?). He is upset because Otello has appointed Cassio to be the captain of the navy, a position that he has hoped to have. The people of Cyprus celebrate the navy's safe return by lighting a bonfire (Chorus: Fuoco di gioia!). In the tavern, Iago proposes a toast to Otello and his wife, while Cassio give fulsome praises to Desdemona (Iago, Cassio, Chorus, Roderigo: Roderigo, beviam!). Iago offers Cassio wine, but Cassio says he has had enough. Iago pressures him, and when Iago offers a toast to Otello and Desdemona, Cassio gives in. Iago sings a drinking song and continues to pour Cassio wine (Iago, Cassio, Roderigo, chorus: Inaffia l'ugola! - "Wet your throat"). Montano enters and calls for Cassio to begin his watch, but he is surprised to find Cassio drunk and barely able to stand upright. To Montano's surprise, Iago explains that this is how Cassio spends every evening. Roderigo laughs at Cassio. Cassio asks who laughs; Roderigo says, "I laugh at drunkards!" and Cassio attacks him. Montano tells Cassio to refrain, but Cassio draws his sword and threatens to crack open Montano's head (Montano, Cassio, Iago, Roderigo, chorus: Capitano, v’attende la fazione ai baluardi). Cassio and Montano begin to duel, and Iago sends Roderigo to call the alarm. Cassio wounds Montano as Otello enters and orders them to lower their swords. Otello asks "honest Iago" to explain how the duel began, but Iago says he doesn't know. Otello then turns to Cassio, who feels embarrassed and cannot excuse his actions. When Otello discovers that Montano is wounded, he becomes enraged. Desdemona enters, and, upon seeing that his bride's rest has been disturbed, Otello declares that Cassio is no longer be his captain (Otello, Iago, Cassio, Montano : Abbasso le spade ). Montano is helped away and the Cypriots leave Otello alone with Desdemona. Together Otello and Desdemona recall why they fell in love. They kiss and then walk back to the castle (Otello, Desdemona: Gia nella note densa - "Already in the dense night"). Act IIInside the castle, a chamber next to the garden Iago suggests Cassio to ask Desdemona to talk to Otello about his demotion. He added, she controls Otello and she can make Otello to reinstated Cassio as a captain (Iago, Cassio: Non ti crucciar). Cassio goes to the garden waiting for Desdemona. Desdemona and Emilia enter, and Cassio begins to plead with Desdemona. Iago watches Cassio and Desdemona and proclaims his evil Credo (Credo in un Dio crudel - "I believe in a cruel God"). Otello enters the chamber. Pretending not to notice Otello who is walking by, Iago says that he is deeply wounded. Otello asks what's wrong. Iago, by giving half-answers and asking vague questions, makes Otello demand to know what it is that Iago is thinking of. Iago intimates that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. Otello feels himself becoming jealous, but he wants proof of Desdemona's betrayal first (Iago, Otello: Cio m’accora.. che parli? ). A crowd of children, sailors, and Cypriots encircles Desdemona, praising her beauty and purity (Chorus, Iago, children, Desdemona, Otello: Dove guardi splendono raggi). They leave her gifts and wish her happiness before leaving. Desdemona carries Cassio's request for reinstatement to Otello. She says that it makes her very sad, and she prays that he will pardon Cassio. Otello sourly tells her to ask him another time, but she insists. Otello says that he has a headache. Desdemona wraps his head in a handkerchief Otello once gave her, linen and embroidered with strawberries. Otello throws it to the ground and says he doesn't need it (Desdemona, Otello: D'un uom che geme sotto il tuo disdegno). Emilia picks up the handkerchief. Desdemona asks for Otello's forgiveness. Aside, Iago demands that Emilia give him the handkerchief. When she refuses, Iago takes it from her. Otello asks to be alone. Desdemona and Emilia leave. Otello now begin to believe that Desdemona may be deceiving him (Otello : Ora è per sempre addio ). Iago pretends to leave, but comes back. Otello, fills with jealousy, demands Iago to prove Desdemona's infidelity, or else he will be killed. Iago says that once, when he and Cassio were sleeping in the same room, he heard Cassio talking to Desdemona in a dream. In the dream, says Iago, Cassio told Desdemona that they must be careful to conceal their love (Iago: Era la note, Cassio dormia ). Iago continues that it was only a dream and does not prove anything, but then asks if Otello remembers the handkerchief that Desdemona was embroidering? Otello says yes, it was the first gift he gave to her. Iago says that he saw it just yesterday with Cassio. Otello calls for blood, and kneeling down, prays for vengeance. Iago kneels with him, and together they swear vengeance on Desdemona (Otello, Iago: Sì, pel ciel marmoreo giuro - "Yes, by the marble heavens I swear"). Act IIIThe great hall of the castle. A small hall next to the great hall. Otello and Iago are in the great hall when a herald announces the arrival of the Venetian ambassador . Otello dismisses the herald . Iago explains his plan: He will draw Cassio here while Otello watches, hidden. Before he goes, he reminds Otello of the handkerchief (Otello, Iago: Continua, Qui trarro Cassio ). Desdemona enters and reminds Otello of Cassio's request. Otello says that he still has a headache, and asks her to wrap her handkerchief around his head. When Desdemona produces a different handkerchief, Otello demands the one he gave her. When she says she does not have it, Otello says that it was a talisman, and troubles will befall her if she loses it. Desdemona says that he is trying to distract her from Cassio. "The handkerchief!" he demands. Desdemona reminds him how close a friend Cassio was to him. "The handkerchief!" he demands again. Desdemona asks that he pardon Cassio. "The handkerchief!" he demands a third time (Desdemona, Otello: Dio ti giocondi, o sposo ). Desdemona cries out in fear. Otello says that the handkerchief is damning her to Hell. Desdemona protests that she is faithful. Otello, angry, motions for her to leave (Desdemona, Otello: Esterrefatta fisso ). Otello laments his fate (Dio! mi potevi scagliar tutti I mali - "God, you could have lashed at me" ) when suddenly Iago calls out, "Cassio is here!" Iago enters and quickly motions for Otello to hide. Cassio follows and says he had hoped to see Desdemona here, for he wanted to know whether she had been successful with Otello (Iago, Cassio, Otello: Vieni; l’aula e deserta ). Iago, leading Cassio towards Otello's hiding place, asks him to tell of his adventures with that woman. Cassio asks which woman, and, softly, Iago says, "Bianca." Iago and Cassio laugh, and Iago leads Cassio away from Otello's hiding place. Soon Iago motions Otello to come closer, and as he does, Iago holds up the handkerchief so that Otello can see it clearly (Iago, Cassio, Otello: …e intanto, giacche non si stanca mai ). Bugles sound, announcing the arrival of the Venetian ambassador. Iago warns Cassio that he should leave unless he wants to meet Otello. Cassio exits, and Otello determined to kill his wife by suffocating her in her bed, while Iago will take care of Cassio. Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, Roderigo, and other dignitaries enter. Lodovico comments that he does not see Cassio. Iago tells him that Cassio is out of favor, and Desdemona says that he will soon be restored. Otello, as he reads the letter from the Doge, asks, "Are you sure?" Iago explains to the puzzled Lodovico that perhaps Cassio's restoration is her wish. Desdemona says that it is, for she has quite an affection for him. Otello overheard this and begin to argue with his wife. Infuriated, Otello calls her a demon and almost strikes her violently but held by Lodovico. Otello then calls for Cassio (Lodovico, Otello, Desdemona, Emilia, Iago, chorus: Il Doge ed il Senato salutano ) . When Cassio enters, Otello reads the decree of the Doge and tells Desdemona to be quiet. Otello announces that the Doge has recalled him to Venice and has installed Cassio as the new Duke of Cyprus. Enraged, Otello throws Desdemona to the ground (Otello, Roderigo, iago, Cassio, Lodovico: Messeri! … Il Doge.. ) Desdemona on the ground, laments ( A terra! … si … nel livido fango ). Emilia and Lodovico comfort Desdemona. Aside, Iago tells Otello that tonight is the night to take revenge. Iago says that he will deal with Cassio. Iago then secretly tells Roderigo that the only way to prevent Desdemona from leaving is for the new Duke to die, and arranges for Roderigo to kill Cassio tonight. Otello orders everyone to leave. Desdemona goes to comfort him, but Lodovico drags her away as Otello curses her (Emilia, Cassio, Desdemona, Roderigo, Lodovico, Iago, Otello, chorus: Quell’innocente un fremito ). All except Otello and Iago leave. Otello, raving about the handkerchief and collapses. Iago presses Otello's forehead with his heel, then walks away. Outside the crowd of Cypriots calls out victory and glory for Otello (Otello, Desdemona, Emilia, Cassio, Roderigo, Lodovico, Iago, chorus: Fuggite! ). Act IVDesdemona's chamber. A lit lamp in front of an image of mother Mary. Desdemona and Emilia are preparing for bed. Desdemona asks Emilia to put out the bridal gown she used on her wedding day, and says that if she dies, she wants to be buried with it. Emilia tells not to talk about such things. Desdemona recalls how her mother had a servant named Barbara, who fell in love with a man but went mad when he left her (Desdemona: Mia madre aveva una povera ancella - "Willow Song") ; (Desdemona, Emilia: Piangea cantando nell’erma landa ). As Emilia goes to leave, Desdemona bids her a farewell. After Emilia left, Desdemonia prays (Ave Maria ) and then falls asleep on her bed. Silently, Otello enters. He is holding a sword and stands watching Desdemona asleep. He leans forward and kisses Desdemona three times, Desdemona awakes. Otello asks her if she has prayed tonight. She asks why, he replies, he does not want to kill her soul. She asks God for mercy, both for her and for Otello. Otello accuses her of sin, saying that he must kill her because she loves Cassio. Desdemona denies it and asks that he summon Cassio on her behalf. Otello says that Cassio is already dead. Desdemona pleads for mercy, but Otello tells her it's too late for that and strangles her (Otello, Desdemona: Diceste questa sera le vostre preci ). Emilia knocks at the door. Otello delays for a moment before he lets her in. She announces that Cassio has killed Roderigo. "And Cassio?" asks Otello. "Lives," says Emilia. Desdemona softly calls out that she has been unjustly accused. Emilia sees her lying on the bed and cries out in horror. As Desdemona says again that she is innocent, she dies. Otello calls her a whore. Emilia calls Otello a murderer. Otello says that Iago has proved that she loves Cassio. Emilia calls Otello a fool, and as he begins to menace her, she calls for help. Iago, Cassio, and Lodovico enter. Emilia demands that Iago deny Otello's accusation. Iago says it is the truth. Otello says that the handkerchief she gave to Cassio proved it to him. Emilia, horrified, explains that Iago stole the handkerchief from her, as Cassio reveals that he found the handkerchief in his dwelling. Montano enters and says that Roderigo, with his dying breath, has revealed Iago's plan. Iago, brandishing his sword, runs away (Emilia, Otello, Desdemona, Cassio, Iago, Lodovico, Montano: Aprite! Aprite! ). After realizes what has happened, Otello grieves over Desdemona's death. He then draws a dagger from his robe and stabs himself. Others tried to stop him but it was too late. Before he dies, he drags himself next to his wife and kisses her. He lies dead next to Desdemona (Otello, Cassio, Lodovico, Montano: Miun mi tema - "That none fear me" ). Selected recordings
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