WENZEL ANDRESEN - VERDI'S OTHELLO

(from Operans Värld)

#OthElokuu

Othello

Opera in four acts.
Lyrics: Arrigo Boito after Shakespeare.
Dramatis personae:

• Othello, commander-in-chief (heroic tenor);
• Cassio, young lieutenant (lyric tenor);
• Iago, non-commissioned officer (baritone);
• Roderigo (lyric tenor);
• Ludovico, dignitary (bass-baritone);
• the former governor of Cyprus (bass-baritone);
• Desdemona, Othello's lady wife (soprano);
• Emilia, Iago's wife and Desdemona's handmaid (mezzo).

Time and Place: Late 1490s, Cyprus.
Ur-première: La Scala di Milano, 5th of February 1887.
Swedish Première: Royal Theatre, Stockholm, 27th of May 1890.

Act I. Outside the castle, a hectic crowd has gathered to look beyond the stormy seas, where warships struggle against a violent tempest. It happens in the evening. People fall down on their knees and pray for Othello, who is on board the flagship. Iago and Roderigo are among the spectators of the dramatic scene, with far more schadenfreude than anxiety, but thankfully the scene ends with general lighthearted respite. The flagship makes her way into port with only a broken mizzen-mast. Othello lands at the head of his crew and proclaims his victory over the Turks. Then he heads for the castle, followed by the cheering crowd. But Iago has intrigue up his sleeves. He hates Cassio as much as he hates Othello, since the commander has passed over him and appointed Cassio as his aide. Therefore, Iago now tries to rile up Roderigo against both of them. He orders strong drink and proposes toasts to everything there is to celebrate with Cassio, getting the younger officer drunk.
Roderigo's laughter adds even more fuel to his fire, and when the former governor interposes himself he gets far deeper roped into the conflict. Cassio draws steel, and his opponents have to defend themselves. In the meantime, Iago is busy riling up the bystanders, and it all ends when Othello arrives and, to Iago's great schadenfreude, demotes Cassio. Desdemona has also been drawn to the commotion and goes to the side of her husband who, afterwards, is calming everyone down. Othello and Desdemona stand en tête-à-tête on the balcony/verandah and sing their love duet.
Act II. Iago has a conversation with Cassio, in a castle hall, and advises the young officer to ask Desdemona to intercede for his sake before Othello. Once Cassio has left, Iago sings his Creed, in which he confesses to believe in evil. Desdemona is seen through the window outside in the gardens with Emilia, and Cassio encounters the ladies, who receive him cordially. When Othello simultaneously passes by, Iago makes him pay attention to what is occurring in the garden. He contrives to plant the seed of Othello's jealousy. But even if Othello is already suspicious towards his wife, he lacks proof or evidence of her guilt. When the sailors' wives and children honour Desdemona, Othello forgets for a short lapse about his suspicions, but they flare up again as soon as Desdemona returns to her husband's side and intercedes for Cassio. The commander sends her away, blaming it on a headache. She wants to help, binding the handkerchief he gave her around his forehead, but he casts it aside. Emilia picks the kerchief up, but Iago snatches it from her grasp. Desdemona is stunned by her husband's rejecting reaction, but he is completely beyond her reach. Othello shoves her away in a rage. Othello surrenders completely to his negative emotions, determined to forget everything that had once been his great pride and joy. Iago tries to reassure him with flattering words, and Othello puts all pressure on him, asking for proof. Iago has no conscience at all. He has no proof to speak of until now, so he attempts with a lie. He affirms that he has heard Cassio talking in his sleep about Desdemona... and tells of a handkerchief that he recognised as Desdemona's in Cassio's hands. Othello is beside himself with fury, recognising himself the kerchief by its description; it was his first gift of love to his lady. Now his suspicions are confirmed, and Iago completely supports his views.
Act III. Iago has planned a conversation with Cassio, one that Othello will be eavesdropping on. When Desdemona enters, Othello receives her with razor-sharp irony. He complains about headaches and asks for her handkerchief, but this time she actually produces another one. He reacts aggressively, threatening her, and she sheds tears of fear and sorrow, having hever seen her husband in that state before. Now Othello stands alone, shattered by his suspicions. Iago and Cassio approach, and Othello hides behind a pillar in order to eavesdrop on what they are talking about. Iago contrives to control the conversation in such a way that Othello thinks that the woman they mention is Desdemona. He also sees the handkerchief in Cassio's hand, but does not know that it was Iago who planted it within the young officer's reach. Othello's sanity slips. He asks Iago about the best way to murder her and receives the reply: "I'd rather suffocate her upon the very marriage bed she has tainted." As thanks for Iago's ostensible loyalty, Othello appoints him as his new aide.
Dignitaries visit Othello, who receives them along with his lady wife and entourage. The embassy brings the salute and the message that Othello is to be reassigned and succeeded on Cyprus by Cassio. Othello's sanity slips and he shoves Desdemona, pinning her to the ground. She and everyone else present flee in despair, and Iago is left en tête-à-tête with a commander who collapses out of sheer exhaustion. From outside a chorus is heard to honour Othello: "Send our Lion victorious!" "LO AND BEHOLD!" says Iago, while pointing at the senseless Othello at his feet.
Act IV. Emilia lets Desdemona's hair down for the night. Desdemona sings her willow song. Full of ominous intuition, she takes her final leave of Emilia and then sings her Hail Mary. As soon as she has fallen asleep, Othello sneaks into her bedchamber. For a long time he stands there, contemplating her before he wakes her up with a kiss. Her pleas, when she is made aware of his intentions, are all in vain. His decision cannot be revoked, and he strangles her. Emilia enters, uttering a scream that summons Ludovico, Cassio, and Iago. With Emilia's help, the whole intrigue is unravelled, and Iago attempts to flee, but is taken prisoner. Othello wants to plunge his sword into the schemer, but lets it fall and collapses, desperate, before the form of his wife. Before anyone has been able to prevent it, he has stabbed a dagger into his own chest, all the way though the heart.

Arrigo Boito, a composer himself, of Mephistopheles among others, has with his Shakespearean libretto created a unique masterpiece within the genre. The music shows the mastery Verdi had attained over the course of years. Though this is still Italian opera with radiant melodies, Othello is simultaneously well composed through and shows more than once that Verdi knew Wagner's works. The opening scene in the port is dramatic and of exciting intensity, that rises in Iago's demonic drinking song.

As a stark contrast, Othello's and Desdemona's duet with its love motif that will repeat itself more than once throughout the opera.

Iago's Creed monologue is of equally Satanic intensity (to the rest of the numbers where he stars).

Of great melodic beauty are Desdemona's willow song and her subsequent Hail Mary.

In the finale, Othello's entrance is foreshadowed by a leitmotif that depicts his thoughts of revenge and murder.