Otello

Synopsis

The Othello story, how jealousy can undermine even the deepest love. Cyprus, at the end of the 15th century, is an outpost of the Venetian Empire, at war with the Turks. The Governor is the Moor Otello, who has just married Desdemona, the young daughter of a noble Venetian family.

Our Review:

14 March 2013

In 400 years, Shakespeare’s tale of deception and jealousy has never lost any of its power. As an opera it is less well known, this being the first time Opera North has included it in its repertoire, staging it now as part of the company’s 200th anniversary celebration of Verdi’s death.

Sometimes with little revived pieces we can appreciate the work but understand why it is not seen more often. However, apart from the scale of this opera, it really is hard to see, particularly from an audience’s point of view, why Otello gets such a rare outing. The story has all the elements necessary to create the high drama opera requires and coupled with Verdi’s magnificent score heightens the emotions to an almost overwhelming degree.

It is a dramatic piece and this is a fitting production, set on an industrial dockland, with a striking design of iron and cold tiling which opens with a full chorus facing the audience. Unfortunately, at The Low...

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