Perhaps no other composer adapted the words of Shakespeare for the operatic stage quite as well as Giuseppe Verdi. His Macbeth, Falstaff and Otello are not just some of the best operas based on works by the bard, but among the best operas ever written. With the quadricentennial of the playwright's death in 2016, the Grand Liceu Theater presented Otello, conducted by Philippe Augin.
Lisa Simeone hosts this broadcast of the production starring Marc Heller in the title role, Ermonela Jaho as his devoted wife Desdemona and Marco Vratogna as the villain Iago, who preys upon Otello's insecurity and jealousy. World of Opera airs Thursdays at 4 pm, Saturdays at 5 pm and Sundays at 1 pm on the Operavore stream.
Cast:
Otello: Marc Heller (tenor)
Desdemona: Ermonela Jaho (soprano)
Iago: Marco Vratogna (baritone)
Cassio: Alexe iDolgov (tenor)
Roderigo: Vincenç Esteve Madrid (tenor)
Emilia: Olesya Petrova (mezzo-soprano)
Lodovico: Roman Ialcic (bass)
Montano: Damián del Castillo (bass)
Grand Liceu Theater Orchestra and Chorus
Philippe Augin, conductor