 | Othello |  |
"Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!
Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw.
To furnish me with some swift means of death
For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant. Othello
I am your own for ever. Iago " Act III, scene iii
Written: 1604
Lyric Opera of Chicago ; 2002 Chicago, Illinois
Starring :
Reviewed on : 2002-09-30 14:15:55 ; Reviewed by : Antonia Mandry
| Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2001-2002 season, Verdi's Otello opened the season. Ben Heppner sung Otello while his Desdemona was sung alternately by Renée Flemming and Kallen Esperian. I saw the latter in the role along with Jonas Kaufmann as Otello and Lucio Gallo as Iago. The music was typical Verdi and with this composer's adoration of Shakespeare comes a slavish faithfulness to the text. To us Shakespeare addicts out there, this is greatly welcome. Yet even with such a clear idolization, Verdi felt compelled to add motive to the motiveless villain. Thus, Iago becomes a man resentful of being passed over for promotion and one with an abiding hatred of Otello. Truthfully, this is completely unnecessary. It is incomprensible how such a genius and avid Shakespeare-student like Verdi could second guess the latter's reasons for choosing to omit motive from the characterization of Iago. In the modern age, it becomes even more important for us to understand that sometimes we will be unable to understand. That aside, the duet between Otello and Iago when the latter swears to stand beside his general if and when the time comes to put an end to the unfaithful Desdemona is a shattering, powerful moment. And for that moment alone (one which is so rare in modern opera), we applaud every and each performance of Otello.
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Sir John Gilbert, R.A.,
Othello and Iago
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February 6, 2009 |  | Théâtre de l'Odéon
November 14, 2008 |  | Metropolitan Opera
February 22, 2008 |  | Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
February 13, 2008 |  | Stratford Festival of Canada
August 4, 2007 |  | Boston Theatre Works in BCA Plaza Theatre
March 2006 |  | Ankara Devlet Opera ve Balesi
November 16, 2005 |  | Oyun Atölyesi
March 14, 2005 |  | Lions Gate Films
2004 |  | Lyric Opera of Chicago
2002 |  | Masterpiece Theatre
2002 |  | Tim Blake Nelson
2001 |  | Royal Shakespeare Company
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