Verdi: Otello 5 years old

Kirill Petrenko and Anja Harteros Are Magnificent in the Staatsoper’s Otello

Like an outcry the elemental force of the orchestra shatters the silence, the storm on the coast of Cyprus rages incessantly. The wind whips, lightening cuts through the roaring skies. As Othello, the great general and commander becomes entangled in Iago's web of machinations; as the calamitous seed of jealousy germinates and Othello's love for his wife Desdemona begins to decay, even on their wedding day; as Desdemona, "nevertheless insists, although she senses or feels that this harm comes her way, and that Othello in his jealousy is really capable of killing her" (Amélie Niermeyer) – with his Otello Verdi created an operatic drama, the likes of which had never before been so tight, so direct, so intensive and so beautiful, and still today unmatched.

Credits

Verdi: Otello Cast

Name	Character
Jonas Kaufmann He was 49, now 54 years old	as Otello
Gerald Finley He was 58, now 64 years old	as Jago

Verdi: Otello Crew

Name	Department
William Shakespeare as Original Story. He was 454 (51) years old when He died	Writing
Giuseppe Verdi as Original Music Composer. He was 205 (87) years old when He died	Sound
Arrigo Boito as Writer. He was 176 (76) years old when He died	Writing