Verdi - Otello torrent

Verdi's Otello
Opera on 3, Live from the Met

Widely seen as Italian opera's greatest tragedy, Verdi's late opera Otello, based on Shakespeare's great tragedy of deception and betrayal, sees the love between the Moorish general Otello and his new wife Desdemona destroyed by the manipulative Iago. The score contains some of Verdi's most intense and dramatic music, placing huge importance on the role of the orchestra. Baritone Zeljko Lucic sings the role of the manipulative Iago, with soprano Hibla Gerzmava as Desdemona, and tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko in the title role, the outsider who cannot control his jealousy.

Presented by Mary Jo Heath with commentary from Ira Siff.

Cast:

Desdemona ..... Hibla Gerzmava (soprano)
Otello ..... Aleksandrs Antonenko / Francesco Anile* (tenor)
Cassio ..... Alexey Dolgov (tenor)
Iago ..... Zeljko Lucic (baritone)
Lodovico ..... James Morris (bass-baritone)
Montano ..... Jeff Mattsey (baritone)
Emilia ..... Jennifer Johnson Cano (mezzo-soprano)
Roderigo ..... Chad Shelton (tenor)
Herald ..... Tyler Duncan (baritone)

The Chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
The Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York
Adam Fischer (conductor)

*Due to illness, Francesco Anile stood in for Aleksandrs Antonenko during the last scene.

Duration: 3 hours
Broadcast: 23rd April 2016