Otello has been hated all his life. No one, least of all he himself, expected him to reach the highest position of power – but that’s exactly where he is now. Due to his past, he responds to setbacks and opposition with rage. He is his own worst enemy, making him easy prey for the embittered Iago who wants to topple him.
Otello and his wife Desdemona are dependent on each other: he needs her validation and she, having lived her entire life in the shadow of violence, is attracted by his dangerousness and feels compelled to save him. When Iago tricks Otello into believing that the innocent Desdemona is being unfaithful, Otello becomes consumed by jealousy and obsessive paranoia.
The internationally acclaimed singer Michael Weinius makes his role debut as Otello, one of his dream roles. Desdemona is sung by award-winning Julia Sporsén, whose performances have been praised as strong and spellbinding. Danish Jens Søndergaard takes the role of the evil Iago. For two performances, Otello will be sung by Tomas Lind and Desdemona by Carolina Sandgren. The 60-strong opera chorus portray the condemning and divisive society.
Behind the production are multiple award-winning director Rafael R. Villalobos and set designer Emanuele Sinisi. Their Otello is set in an isolated place where both the surroundings and the people are slowly breaking down.
Verdi’s opera, staged in Gothenburg for the first time in 55 years, is based on Shakespeare’s tragedy. Verdi holds us captive from the very first bar – not releasing us until Desdemona and Otello take their last breath in Act 4. The unrelenting music is conducted by Italian conductor Vincenzo Milletarì.
Part of The Göteborg Opera’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
