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Verdi’s penultimate opera, Otello, would most likely never have been written had it not been for the composer’s publisher, Giulio Ricordi. After finishing Aida in 1871, Verdi decided he would bring his magnificent career as an opera composer to its close. Naturally, this did not please Ricordi. So, he invented a way of deflecting Verdi from his set course: namely, by offering him a libretto he would find irresistible. The composer’s admiration of the Bard was generally known, so Ricordi shrewdly steered his attention towards Othello and chose Arrigo Boito to be the librettist. The outcome was obvious: on 1st November 1886 Verdi completed the score, so rehearsals at Milan’s La Scala could start in January 1887. The part of Iago was sung by the French baritone Victor Maurel, who couldn’t stand the interpreter of Otello, the Italian tenor Francesco Tamagna, a scorn on a par with that of Iago’s hatred of Othello, underlying which was the fact that the tenor received much higher royalties. On Verdi’s insistence the rehearsals were closed to the public, and the press was barred from any information about the new opera. The composer was convinced he and Boito had created a masterpiece and he was not mistaken. The premiere, on 5th February 1887, was a major occasion, with streets in the neighbourhood of La Scala thronged with people. The opera instantly embarked on a triumphant international trajectory. As early as 07th January 1888, a Czech-language version was performed at Prague’s National Theatre. Act I begins on a stormy night at a harbour in Cyprus where a group of local people anxiously wait for the arrival of Otello, the new governor. The ship is caught in a storm, much to the dismay of the people and they pray for the safe arrival of all those onboard. Once they reach the harbour, Otello greets the people and announces the victory over Turkey. Iago, Otello’s ensign, encourages Roderigo, a gentleman, to seduce Otello’s wife, Desdemona. Iago wants to punish Otello for appointing Cassio as Captain of the Navy, as he had wanted the position.
During the victory celebrations, Iago and Roderigo conspire against Otello and Cassio. They beckon Cassio and ply him with wine throughout the night and prompt him to attempt to duel with Roderigo. Cassio’s drunken behaviour catches the attention of Otello and Montano, Cassio’s predecessor. In the fray, Cassio accidentally wounds Montano. Desdemona is frightened by the fight and Otello reprimands Cassio for his behaviour, demoting him. Otello comforts his wife and the two reminisce about their courtship and reaffirm their love for one another.
Act II
In the castle, Iago reassures Cassio about the demotion and suggests he seek out Desdemona to discuss the incident in order to gain favour again with Otello. They spot Desdemona and her main walking outside in the garden and Cassio leaves to talk to her.
Iago watches from the window and is soon joined by Otello who wonders why Iago looks so concerned. Iago cleverly plants thoughts into Otello’s mind about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship. During Otello’s courtship of Desdemona, Cassio often give her gifts on Otello’s behalf. Iago uses this knowledge to cast suspicions onto Cassio’s motives and warns Otello to be vigilant of his wife. Otello tries to dispel Iago’s suggestions and joins Desdemona in the garden, complimenting her on her beauty. However, when she mentions Cassio’s demotion, Otello thinks of Iago’s concerns and jealousy stirs within him. He feigns a headache, prompting Desdemona to press her handkerchief to his head soothingly; an action that enrages Otello. He throws the fabric to the ground as Desdemona implores her husband to forgive her for whatever sin he believes her to have committed. Iago’s wife, Emilia, picks up the handkerchief, intending to give it back to Desdemona, but Iago demands that she hand it over to him. Emilia, reluctant to do so, declines but her husband snatches it from her and warns her to stay silent.
Otello laments his wife’s infidelities and demands proof from Iago of her indiscretions. Iago fabricates a story where he claims to have overheard Cassio dreaming of Desdemona, and discussing the need to keep their relationship secret in the dream. To prove his story, Iago mentions the handkerchief and claims it is now in Cassio’s possession. It is enough to convince Otello and he vows vengeance on his adulterous wife and her lover.
Act III
Iago and Otello discuss their plan to kill Cassio. While Iago leaves to fetch the soldier, Desdemona enters and greets her husband warmly, and again, pleads him to rethink Cassio’s demotion. He asks her to press her handkerchief to his head, as he still has a headache, but when she shows him a different handkerchief, he requests the one she had in the garden. Desdemona tells him she no longer has it with her. Otello is furious and curses Desdemona, telling her that failure to produce the handkerchief will result in bad fortune for her. The two argue; Desdemona insistent of her faithfulness and Otello claiming her to be nothing but a courtesan.
When Desdemona leaves, Otello’s rage subsides and he becomes despondent. He prays to God for answers as to why he has been made to suffer in this way and then warns that Desdemona will soon be punished. Iago arrives to inform Otello that Cassio is on his way, and Otello hides. Iago leads Cassio into a jovial discussion of Cassio’s real lover, Bianca, but as Otello is far away, he is only able to hear fragments of their conversation. These fragments are enough to appear to be about Cassio’s relationship with Desdemona and Otello’s rage increases. Iago asks to go to Cassio’s chambers, Otello watching from a close distance, and they find Desdemona’s handkerchief. Even though Cassio does not know to whom it belongs to, Iago makes a show of waving it so that Otello can see. Taking this as further confirmation of the affair, Otello later asks Iago to arrange Cassio’s murder, while he will suffocate Desdemona himself. Iago agrees and Otello promotes him to Captain of the Navy, the position Cassio has been vacated from.
The announcement of the Ambassador of Venice sounds and Otello and Iago leave to greet him. The Ambassador, Lodovico, and other dignitaries assemble in the hall and meet Otello but note Cassio’s absence. Iago mentions that Cassio has recently been demoted but Desdemona insists that Cassio may soon fall into good graces again. Lodovico asks Desdemona if that is her wish, and she replies that it is as she is fond of Cassio. Otello becomes angry at this and tries to strike his wife, but Lodovico restrains him. Otello calls for Cassio, who arrives quickly, and instructs Iago to watch Desdemona when Cassio is in the room.
The Ambassador brings the message that Otello has been requested to return to Venice while Cassio will take over Otello’s duties as governor of Cyprus. Otello sees this as Desdemona’s doing and attacks her, throwing her to the ground in front of the dignitaries. Iago takes Otello aside during the commotion and advices him to commit the murders tonight while he has the opportunity. When Otello agrees, Iago plays on Roderigo’s feelings for Desdemona and reminds him that Desdemona will leave with Otello – unless Cassio dies as Otello will then stay. With Iago’s assistance, Roderigo agrees to kill Cassio.
Otello begins to be belligerent towards the crowd and Iago claims that it is a sickness that is affecting his reason. Desdemona attempts to soothe her husband but he hurls curses at her before collapsing. Everybody flees that hall but for Iago, who looks upon the scene with glee. As the Cypriots outside hail victory cries for Otello, Iago snidely throws the handkerchief to the ground next to Otello.
Act IV
Later that night, Emilia approaches a subdued Desdemona in her bedroom chambers and enquires about Otello’s mood. Desdemona assures the woman that Otello calmed down and she is waiting for him to come to her chambers. She asks Emilia to lay out her bridal gown on her bed as she would like to be buried in it. While Emilia brushes Desdemona’s hair and prepares her for bed, Desdemona tells the story of her mother’s maid, Barbara, who was jilted. When Emilia leaves, Desdemona prays to an idol of Madonna before heading to bed.
When Otella enters the bedroom, he blows out the candles and kisses his wife three times, prompting her to ask who it is. Otello asks her if she has said her prayers for the night and if she had anything she needed to confess. She replies that she prayed for God to grant them mercy. Otello accuses her of falling in love with Cassio, which she denies again and asks Otello to bring Cassio into the chambers to hear it for himself. Otello replies that Cassio is dead and Desdemona again prays for mercy as Otello strangles her.
There is repeated knocking on the door and Emilia says that Cassio has killed Roderigo. In her final moments, Desdemona cries out that she has been punished unfairly. Emilia enters to find Otello beside a dead Desdemona. Emilia is shocked and Otello confesses his actions because of Cassio and Desdemona’s affair. Though Otello threatens her, Emilia condemns Otello and announces his murder through the castle.
Lodovico, Cassio and Iago enter the chambers and see Desdemona dead. They exclaim at the sight of Otello’s actions. Emilia asks her husband to disprove Otello’s theory of Desdemona’s affair but Iago is quiet. Cassio and Emilia cite instances with the handkerchief that Iago took from Emilia by force and that Iago later found in Cassio’s chambers. Montano reveals that in his last moments, Roderigo confessed Iago’s plan to kill Cassio. Otello demands that Iago reveal the truth, but Iago refuses and flees from the guards who chase him.
Otello realises Iago’s treachery and what he has done. Heartbroken and full of grief, he reveals a small dagger and stabs himself with it. In his final moments, he approaches Desdemona’s bed and kisses her until he finally succumbs to his fate and dies next to his innocent wife. |
