Mar 18, 2017
LoftOpera, which brings opera to industrial spaces, presents a different “Otello,” this one by Rossini, with a more fully fleshed-out heroine.
“The comparison to the Verdi is one reason Rossini’s “Otello” is so rarely performed. Berio departs from Shakespeare in sometimes drastic ways, resulting in a more diffuse plot. The character of Cassio is cut altogether, replaced by Rodrigo as the object of Desdemona’s suspected infidelity. Iago still pulls the strings, but has none of the dark charisma of Verdi’s villain. Otello, Rodrigo and Iago are all tenor roles — difficult ones, full of fast runs and ornaments — making the opera tough to cast.”
