Rossini Otello (antonino Fogliani) [2010]

Rossini’s Otello was premiered on December 4, 1816, and remained one of his most frequently performed operas until the general eclipse of most of his works in the late 19th century. Changes in aesthetic style (the replacement of bel canto first by Verdian romantic drama and then verismo) had practical performance implications. Like Armida, Otello also has six tenor roles—three leads and three comprimario parts. The title role is written for a baritenore, a tenor with a lower tessitura but still requiring the top notes, while Rodrigo is cast for a high coloratura tenor, and Iago halfway in between…

FANFARE: James A. Altena

First staged in Naples in 1816, seventy years before Verdi’s very different treatment of the same subject, Rossini’s Otello, based on Berio di Salsa’s play rather than that of Shakespeare, makes full use of no fewer than three lead tenors. In the 19th century the third act won particular praise for the Gondolier’s Song (Nessun maggior dolore) and for the Willow Song (Assisa a’ pie d’un salice), which features some of the composer’s most passionate writing for soprano (Desdemona). The opera concludes with the dramatic and ironic revelation of Jago’s villainy, the forgiveness offered to Otello and his final suicide. Verdi himself considered Rossini’s Otello a masterpiece.