GIUSEPPE VERDI
OTELLO
CONTENTS
P.
4
SYNOPSIS P.
8
THE MOST DANGEROUS HUMAN EMOTION INTERVIEW WITH ADRIAN NOBLE P.
14
EXILES VERSUS LOCALS INTERVIEW WITH DICK BIRD P.
18
WHEN ANTAGONISTS BECOME PARTNERS ANDREAS LÁNG
P.
20
OTHELLO AND OTELLO ADRIAN MOURBY P.
26
LA MORTE È IL NULLA KONRAD PAUL LIESSMANN P.
32
A PERENNIAL FAVOURITE IN THE REPERTOIRE ANDREAS LÁNG P.
36
IMPRINT
GIUSEPPE VERDI
OTELLO DRAMMA LIRICO in four acts Libretto ARRIGO BOITO
ORCHESTRA
3 flutes (3rd doubles as piccolo) 2 oboes / 1 cor anglais / 2 clarinets bass clarinet / 4 bassoons / 4 horns 2 cornets / 2 trumpets / 3 trombones bass trombone / percussion / harp violin I / violin II / viola cello / double bass INCIDENTAL MUSIC ON STAGE mandolin / guitar bagpipe (or 2 oboes) OFF-STAGE INCIDENTAL MUSIC 3 alto horns 2 pistons (or cornets) 6 cornets / 2 trumpets 3 trombones / organ / canon
AUTOGRAPH WORLD PREMIÈRE
Ricordi Archives 5 FEBRUARY 1887
La Scala Milan FIRST PERFORMANCE Court Opera Vienna DURATION
3H
14 MARCH 1888
INCL. 1 INTERMISSION
OTELLO
SYNOPSIS BACKGROUND (FROM THE SHAKESPEARE PLAY) Desdemona, daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio, is in love with the successful foreign general Otello, who is serving in the Venetian army. She marries him in secret, without telling her father. Roderigo is attracted to Desdemona but is rejected by her father. Jealous of Otello, he tells Brabantio about his daugh ter’s marriage. Brabantio is furious and sets off to arrest Otello. Just then, the news arrives that the Turkish fleet has set sail for Cyprus, which is occupied by Venice. The doge appoints Otello commander-in-chief of the defending force. Since it turns out that Otello has been a welcome guest in Brabantio’s house, the doge also gives his approval for Desdemona’s marriage. Braban tio is obliged to relent. Iago, a scheming, malicious ensign of Otello’s, has been passed over for promotion to captain in favour of Cassio. He now hates his commander and is planning his re venge; he nevertheless manages to win Otello’s confidence.
ACT 1 Otello is returning to Cyprus in the midst of a violent storm, having conquered the Turks in a battle at sea. Iago promises Roderigo that Desdemona will one day be his and inflames him against Cassio. He gets Cassio drunk and instigates a fight bet ween Cassio and Roderigo. An uproar ensues until Otello steps in. He demotes Cassio and orders peace. He and Desdemona are left alone; together they sing of their happiness in love.
Previous pages: SCENE
4
SYNOPSIS
ACT 2 Iago encourages the despondent Cassio to ask Desdemona to intercede on his behalf with Otello. The moment Cassio leaves, Iago professes his faith in evil which he can turn to his own be nefit, his conviction that people are subject to an evil fate, and his disbelief in life after death. When Cassio goes to see Desde mona, Iago inflames Otello’s jealousy as he watches the two tal king from afar. When Desdemona then in fact begs her husband to forgive Cassio, Otello reacts correspondingly furiously. Iago secretly steals Desdemona’s handkerchief from his wife Emilia. He convinces Otello that he has heard Cassio talking in his sleep about Desdemona and that he had seen the handkerchief in Cas sio’s hands. Otello swears revenge.
ACT 3 Iago further fuels the intrigue. He has Otello listen to a conver sation between himself and Cassio, of which Otello can hear only a few seemingly incriminating snippets. As they converse, Cassio is holding Desdemona’s handkerchief that Iago has ma naged to pass off to him. Lodovico, a Venetian envoy, appears to inform Otello he has been recalled to Venice. When Otello, feeling deeply humiliated and scarcely able to control himself, hurls Desdemona brutally to the floor a short while later, the company leave the room, horrified. Iago delights as Otello sinks, fainting, to the floor.
ACT 4 In her chamber, Desdemona prepares for bed but is plagued by ominous forebodings. Otello approaches his sleeping wife, awa kens her and accuses her of infidelity. She protests her innocence to no avail; Otello strangles her. Alarmed by the noise, Emilia rushes in. She explains the situation with the handkerchief, whereupon Iago takes flight. Stabbing himself, Otello says fare well to his beloved dead wife with a kiss.
5
Following page: LUDOVIC TÉZIER as IAGO