Verdi
Otello
Sydney Opera House16–29 July 2021
Verdi
Otello
Sydney Opera House16–29 July 2021
Choose a date to see seats and prices
See All Events2021
July
16 Jul 2021
20 Jul 2021
23 Jul 2021
26 Jul 2021
29 Jul 2021
Venue
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney
Language
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
Running time
Approximately 2 hours & 40 minutes, including interval.
Good or evil. Life or death.
A flawed hero. An innocent woman. A masterful villain.
Verdi takes the best bits of one of Shakespeare’s most famous works to create a taut, vivid romantic tragedy.
From the almighty storm to Desdemona’s impossibly beautiful Willow Song, the emotional music compounds the tension and coming tragedy.
Verdi’s score demands three outstanding voices, Shakespeare’s story demands they take take you on a dramatic journey. Yonghoon Lee is a remarkable singer-actor, debuting in the role of Otello, against the incomparable Karah Son making her long awaited debut as Desdemona. Marco Vratogna is world-renowned for his chilling Iago. Young conducting sensation Andrea Battistoni conducts.
Harry Kupfer’s timeless production explores all the action on a precarious, monumental staircase that dominates the stage. Yan Tax’s costumes would be at home on the most elegant runway.
Cast & Creative
Conductor
Director
Revival Director
Set Designer
Costume Designer
Lighting Designer
Assistant Director
Otello
Desdemona
Iago
Cassio
Emilia
Lodovico
Roderigo
Montano
Herald
Opera Australia Orchestra & Opera Australia Chorus
Enjoy dinner before the opera
Overture Dining at Sydney Opera House
Allow us to make your dinner reservation for you: at Overture Dining in the Northern Foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. You’ll be served a themed three-course menu for just $75.
Keeping you safe at the theatre
COVID Safety at Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House and its food and beverage venues are registered as COVID Safe businesses with the NSW Government. To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for everyone, the Opera House has made some changes to the way it operates.
Synopsis
Act I
Cyprus, late 15th century.
Cypriots watch anxiously from the shore as a fierce storm batters the Venetian fleet sent to defend their island from the invading Turks. The Moor Otello, a Venetian general and governor of Cyprus, lands his flagship safely in the port and announces the destruction of the Turkish fleet.
Iago, Otello’s ensign, confers with the wealthy Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona, a Venetian beauty recently married to Otello. Promising to help him, Iago assures Roderigo that Desdemona will soon tire of her husband. He reveals his hatred for Otello, who passed him over for advancement, promoting Cassio instead.
While the citizens celebrate the governor’s victory and his safe return home, Iago proposes a toast. Cassio declines to drink, but Iago argues he cannot refuse to salute Otello’s new wife. Cassio consents and grows tipsy as Iago provokes Roderigo to get into a fight with Cassio. Montano, the former governor, tries to separate the two, but Cassio attacks him as well. Otello appears from the castle to restore order, furious about his soldiers’ behavior. When he sees Desdemona disturbed by the commotion, he takes away Cassio’s recent promotion and commands everyone to leave.
Act II
Iago advises Cassio to present his case to Desdemona. He argues that her influence on the general will certainly get Cassio reinstated. As soon as Cassio is out of sight, Iago declares his belief that a cruel God created man wicked and that life has no meaning. He watches as Cassio approaches Desdemona in the garden. When Otello enters, the lieutenant makes casual remarks about Desdemona’s fidelity. Enchanted by his wife’s beauty, Otello greets her lovingly, but when she brings up the question of Cassio’s demotion, he is angered and complains of a headache. She offers a handkerchief to cool his forehead, but he throws it to the ground. Her attendant Emilia, who is Iago’s wife, picks it up.
As Desdemona tries to calm Otello, Iago seizes the handkerchief from Emilia. Otello asks to be alone and everybody leaves, except for Iago, who remains to observe Otello’s growing suspicion. To fan the flames, he invents a story of how Cassio spoke of Desdemona in his sleep; he mentions that he saw her handkerchief in Cassio’s hand. Exploding with rage and jealousy, Otello swears vengeance, and Iago joins in the oath.
ACT III
A herald informs Otello of the imminent arrival of Venetian ambassadors. Iago tells the general that soon he will have further proof of his wife and Cassio’s betrayal. Desdemona enters, and Otello speaks calmly until she revives the subject of Cassio. When Otello demands the handkerchief he gave her, she again pleads for Cassio. Unable to control his fury any longer, Otello accuses her of infidelity and dismisses her. Left alone, he suffers a fit of desperation and self-pity, then hides as Iago returns with Cassio. Iago flashes the handkerchief he stole and leads the conversation with Cassio in such a way that Otello overhears only fragments and incorrectly assumes they are talking about Desdemona.
As trumpets announce the dignitaries from Venice, Otello, whose rage continues to grow, vows to kill his wife that very night. He then greets the ambassador Lodovico, who recalls him to Venice and appoints Cassio to govern Cyprus. Losing control at this news, Otello pushes his wife to the floor, hurling insults. He orders everyone out and collapses in a seizure, while Iago gloats over him.
ACT IV
Emilia helps Desdemona prepare for bed. Frightened, Desdemona sings of a maiden forsaken by her lover, then says an emotional goodnight to Emilia and recites her prayers. As soon as she has fallen asleep, Otello enters and wakes Desdemona with a kiss. When Otello starts talking about killing her, she is horrified and protests her innocence, but Otello strangles her. Emilia knocks with news that Cassio has killed Roderigo. Shocked to find the dying Desdemona she summons help. Iago’s plot is finally revealed and Otello realizes what he has done. After reflecting on his past glory he pulls out a dagger and stabs himself, dying with a final kiss for his wife.