#otello

RECORDINGS

I've listened to a lecture on Verdi's Otello by Robert Greenberg, and the audiobook included some recordings with an Otello I really liked, but which, unfortunately, were not credited. I've listened to a few recordings trying to match the voice, and I think it was probably Carlo Cossutta.

I've been listening to the Cossutta / Margaret Price recording and I quite like it, in fact it might be my new favourite, which is interesting because I had never heard of Cossutta. So this would be my first rec.

The inescapable name when it comes to Otello is Domingo – there's a few recordings with him but I'd recommend the Levine one with Renata Scotto.

The other big name is Mario Del Monaco – again, there's a few, but I've listened to the one with Renata Tebaldi directed by Erede (I think because I saw this recommended somewhere, given there's one with the same cast directed by the much more famous von Karajan). Del Monaco isn’t my favourite Otello but I've not listened to this one a lot.

STAGED PRODUCTIONS

I've only seen three productions in full and only bits from 2-3 others. One was the 2015 Met Otello and two others with José Cura (who's sung this role for 20 years, for some reason?)

Out of these three productions I liked the 2016 Dresden Otello best, but it's slim pickings.

I've talked a bit about that production HERE. In all honesty, I liked it, even though I don't think Cura is a great Otello (to be fair to him, he was replacing someone undergoing cancer treatment in this particular production. Same for the baritone playing Iago, in fact, who nevertheless did a great job, I think).

About the 2015 Met production – I wasn't thrilled about the staging, but Yoncheva (Desdemona) was great.

Before 2015 it's all blackface. I cannot with Domingo in blackface, he looks ridiculous.

If you want to check a historical production, there's a RAI film with Mario del Monaco on Youtube which I might watch at some point (no subs on this one I'm afraid, but there might be other videos uploaded somewhere).