Opera Philadelphia Sounds of Learning Self-Guided Resources
The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre “Venice and Race” http://www.phillyshakespeare.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Venice-and-Race.pdf The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre reimagines Shakespeare’s writing to educate and enhance how the world thinks about these Elizabethan works. For a very long time Venice, the setting of both Shakespear’s Othello and Rossini’s Otello, was a cultural and economic hub. People from all over the world came to travel and live in Venice, making the native European far more familiar with diversity than residents elsewhere in Europe. Still, this familiarity did not mean the white Venetians held no prejudice towards people of other races and religions. These travelers had to accommodate their lives and practices to the standards of Christian Venice– living in specific quarters of the city and bearing mandated markers of their otherness. Further, the Venetians often tokenized the people from Africa and Middle East for this otherness, they viewed their culture and appearance as novelty.
The Hare; Online Journal “Performing Death and Desire in Othello,” Paige Martin Reynolds https://thehareonline.com/article/performing-death-and-desire-othello This Op-ed examines death of Desdemona in Shakespear’s Othello and how, as an actress, the performance of that death is a mirror to the way her character is seen while alive. Reynolds looks to her own experience playing Desdemona, citing her desire to show a woman who is obedient and meek for survival rather than because she is just plainly weak; Nurture, not nature.
Opera Wire “Opera Profile Rossini’s Radically Different ‘Otello’”, David Salazar https://operawire.com/opera-profile-rossinis-radically-different-otello/ This article dives into the history or Rossini’s Otello, using Verdi's opera of the same name as a point of comparison. Rossini’s piece premiered on December fourth 1816 and was revolutionary for its reimagining of Shakespear's famous Othello. The show held popularity until the 20th century when Verdi Otello premiered. Although he strays a bit from Shakespear’s original plot line, Rossini maintains the original ending of Otello murdering Desdemona in a fit of misunderstanding. This grim ending was a shock to original audiences who were familiar with stories that ended happily and neatly.
Shakespeare Navigators “Cinthio’s Tale: The Source of Shakespeare’s Othello” https://shakespeare-navigators.com/othello/Osource.html “Shakespeare's primary source was a story in Giraldi Cinthio's Hecatommithi, published in 1565. The following is an 1855 translation by J. E. Taylor.”
The Conversation “Decoding the music masterpieces: Rossini’s Opera, Otello, Peter Tregear, October 17 th, 2018” https://theconversation.com/decoding-the-music-masterpieces-rossinis-opera-otello-104760 This article dives into the history of Otello’s conception and its musical innovation. Rossini’s Opera was a shock to audiences at its premiere for its divergence from the original Shakespeare. Lord Byron and Beethoven make reference in this piece for criticism that made to and about Rossini’s Opera.
Variety Desdemona, a Play About a Handkerchief, Jeremy Gerard, Nov 21st 1993 https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/desdemona-a-play-about-a-handkerchief-1200434290/ Paula Vogel's Desdemona is a reimagining of Othello in that Desdemona is truly her husbands worst nightmare. Her independence and sexual agancy forces audience to recognize her humanity beyond Shakespears written obedience
The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre “War Between Turks and Venice” https://www.phillyshakespeare.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/War-Between-Turks-and-Venice.pdf
Historic insight into the war that introduces both Shakespeare and Rossini’s shows. Despite the historical inaccuracy in the outcome, both stories do hold truth in the existence of conflict between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, the “Turks” of the play.
The Listening Service Rossini- Master Chef and Maestro https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rossini-master-chef-and-maestro/id1108468608?i=1000424085528 The Listening Service is a podcast series that examines the complexities of music and the artists who make history with their work. This episode is all about the eccentric and ground breaking, yet somewhat forgotten Gioachino Rossini. Host Tom Service looks at everything Rossini from his famous love of food to his incredibly young career– producing two operas a year and retiring at 39 years old. He seeks to understand why Rossini is so widely undervalued despite his enduring legacy as evidenced by works like the theme song from the TV show The Lone Ranger (1949-57) which is from Rossini’s Guillaume Tell (1829).
NPR Composers In The Kitchen: Gioachino Rossini's Haute Cuisine https://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2010/11/24/131568241/composers-in-the-kitchengioachino-rossini-s-haute-cuisine Dig into the symphonic passion that was Rossini’s love for food.