VERDI - Otello
This is the second of Verdi’s Shakespeare operas; Macbeth (1847) was the first. Only much later did Arrigo Boito (himself a composer of operas) emerged as the ideal librettist to assist the elderly Verdi complete his life’s work. Together they produced two great masterpieces on Shakespeare: Otello, which was premiered in 1887, and Falstaff six years later. The opening of the opera shows Verdi and Boito dramatic skill: as Otello’s endangered ship tries to find port in a storm, the chorus describes the worry and apprehension; relief at his safe arrival gives Othello (Placido Domingo in the title-role) one of the great moments in opera, and he is immediately established as a hero. He is greeted by his wife, Desdemona (Katia Ricciarelli) while Iago (Justino Diaz) sets about his evil plan. This recording, made at La Scala, Milan, in 1985 at the same time as Franco Zeffirelli’s film, has Lorin Maazel conducting its superb chorus and orchestra.

0946 3 58670 2 2 (2CDs)
0946 3 58670 5 3 (Digital Download)