Othello (opera Rossini)

In 1816, the twenty-four-year-old Rossini wrote and staged three operas: The Barber of Seville , by Beaumarchais , The Newspaper , and Othello, by Shakespeare's tragedy. The order was made by the famous Neapolitan impresario Domenico Barbaya , who invited him to Naples . In this major music center in Italy, Rossini was to run two theaters, San Carlo and Del Fondo . Barbaya introduced the composer to the Marquis Berio di Salsa ( 1765 - 1820 ), a passionate book reader. Of particular interest was his English literature. William Shakespeare ( 1564 - 1616 ) and one of his most famous tragedies Othello ( 1604 ) evoked Berio’s admiration. However, writing a libretto for Rossini, he very significantly remade Shakespeare. Sometimes there were even doubts whether the libretto of Shakespeare’s tragedy or the Italian novel Giraldi Chintio ( 1566 ) that inspired him was put in the basis. The title of the novel "The Venetian Moor" became the second title of the libretto . In contemporaries, Rossini did not have such doubts. Stendal , who attended the premiere of the opera, in the book “The Life of Rossini” compared the first and last scenes of Berio's libretto and Shakespeare's tragedy, and Byron , who saw the production in Venice a few years later, wrote, referring to the English Bard : “... they crucified him in the opera ". The inclusion of a song about a willow, and the presence of the names of the heroes testify to the Shakespearean source, whereas in the short story only the heroine was called Desdemona , the rest are nameless. Some names Berio changed: in the song about Willow - Isaur instead of Shakespeare's Barbara, the father of Desdemona - Elmiro instead of Brabantio. The action is fully deployed in Venice (in the tragedy, only Act I, while the other four are in Cyprus). This allowed Rossini to introduce the song of the Venetian gondolier in the last act, in which he used the famous Tertizin Dante from the Divine Comedy: “There is no greater sorrow than to recall in times of happy times”. The libretto of Berio approaches the Shakespearean tragedy only in the last, third act. Here, even Desdemona's murder weapon — the dagger — contradicts only the tradition of performance, not the text (in the remark of Shakespeare it says: “it kills her”). But the first two acts are as close as possible to the usual operatic situations, so that even the impression of the tragic version of Chimaroza's opera- secret Secret Marriage is born. The place of the innocently suspected Cassio was taken by Rodrigo, son of the Doge, for whom Desdemona's father is ready to marry her; thus, Othello's jealousy has real ground. The original intrigue with a handkerchief gave way to a traditional one - with an intercepted letter.

The premiere of "Othello" was held on December 4, 1816 in the Neapolitan theater Del Fondo and was a great success. The role of Desdemona was performed by the famous diva, Spaniard Isabella Kolbran , for whom Rossini wrote the main roles in operas staged in Naples. Six years later, she became his wife ^[1] .

• Othello , Moor, General of the Venetian troops ( tenor )
• Desdemona , Othello's sweetheart and secret wife ( soprano )
• Elmiro , a Venetian patrician , her father ( bass )
• Rodrigo , son of the Doge, rejected fiancé Desdemona ( tenor )
• Iago , the secret enemy of Othello, friend by the calculation of Rodrigo ( tenor )
• Emilia , Desdemona's confidant ( soprano )
• Doge ( tenor )
• Senators , soldiers, people, retinue Othello, Lucho, his friend, Venetian gondolier ( tenor ), ladies Desdemona

Venice 15 in . The winner is returned from the war Moor Othello. He loves Desdemona, daughter of Elmiro. But she is promised to the son of the Venetian Doge Rodrigo. Othello interrupts the marriage ceremony. Elmiro, trying to prevent Othello from meeting her daughter, locks her. Iago deceivingly convinces the Moor that Desdemona is cheating on him from Rodrigo. Then Othello summons Rodrigo to a duel. The authorities send Othello, but he secretly returns to kill Desdemona. Entering her room, Othello assures her that Iago killed Rodrigo. Desdemona is terrified. She understands that Iago is to blame. Moor interprets her reaction as evidence of love for Rodrigo, and strangles her beloved. Othello Lucho's friend enters and reports that Iago is dead. The scheming intrigue revealed, and Rodrigo killed him. Moor in despair of the deed is slaughtered ^[2] .

The soloists are listed in the following order: Othello, Desdemona, Elmiro, Rodrigo, Iago, Emilia.

• 2012 - dir. Moshe Leizer , Patrice Coret; dir Muhai Tan ( en: Muhai Tang ); Soloists: John Osborn , Cecilia Bartoli , Peter Kalman, Javier Camarena, Edgardo Roch, Liliana Nikitan ( de: Liliana Nikiteanu ); Zurich Opera House .

• Othello (Verdi Opera)