Welcome students and teachers to opera online!Last week we looked at Verdi, the man behind the music and the opening Act of Otello. Next we will begin to look at the main characters of the opera and the people who have the challange of singing those roles in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's production.
Website of the week
Clifton Forbis makes his Opera Company of Philadelphia debut in the title role of Otello. Find out more about his life, roles and future performances visit his website. Mr. Forbis is well known for portraying larger-than-life characters like Otello. His burnished, big, heroic voice is perfect for the tragic role of the Venetian general.
YouTube Clip of the Week
Placido Domingo sings Otello's Act III aria "Dio! mi potevi scagliar." Otello has just accused Desdemona of having an affair with Cassio, which she has vehemently denied. Still, he is unsure. He tells God that he could have handled any hardship in his marriage to Desdemona except infidelity. Why has he plagued him thus? With suspicions twirling throughout his mind, Otello just needs proof that Desdemona has been unfaithful.
Here's Canadian tenor Jon Vickers' interpretation of the same scene. The video is not as crisp, but it does have English subtitles.
Otello's other powerful monologue is at the very end of the opera. In Act IV Otello sings "Niun mi tema," or "Let no one fear me. Otello has just murdered his own wife and found out that she was indeed faithful to him. Otello is ruined. His only option is to take his own life. Again, we'll look at two interpretations, one by Placido Domingo, the other by Jon Vickers.
Placido Domingo:
Jon Vickers:
Don't forget to invite your friends to sign up to receive these alerts by emailing their name, school, and age to us at outreach@operaphila.org.
Until next week…
Comments