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Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto in Italian by Arrigo Boïto
with English supertitles
“Un bacio – un bacio – ancora un bacio” (“A kiss – a kiss – and another kiss”). Opera’s famous three kisses of love begin and end this tragic story of supposed infidelity and manipulation.
The Moor Otello and his beautiful wife Desdemona live happily in the land he governs, the island of Cyprus. But when ensign Iago is passed over for the lieutenant’s job he so desperately wanted, Iago becomes bitter and scheming. He convinces Otello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Otello in turn vows to kill Desdemona. The final scene, played out in their bedroom chambers, is one of the most memorable in opera.
Based on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, Othello, The Moor of Venice, Verdi’s Otello is filled with luscious melodies of love and sorrow. Otello was first performed in Milan, Italy in 1887. This was Verdi’s last dramatic opera and is considered one of his finest. Conducted by Verdi scholar David Lawton and directed by Stephanie Sundine.
