VERDI: Otello (PAL)

Giuseppe VERDI (1813 ¡V 1901)

Otello

Opera in 4 acts / Sung in Italian

From the Berlin Staatsoper

Musical Direction: Daniel Barenboim
Stage Direction: Jürgen Flimm

Cast includes: Christian Franz, Emily Magee, Valeri Alexejev, Stephan Rügamer and Andreas Schmidt.

100 346

Picture Format 16:9
Sound Format PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
Total Timing 157 Minutes
Region Code 0
Menu Languages GB, D, F, SP
Subtitle Languages GB, D, F, SP
Recording Date 2001

From the Verdi celebration year 2001 comes a spectacular production by the Berliner Staatsoper Under den Linden. Daniel Barenboim directs the State Opera Orchestra and a young ensemble of singers.

With Jürgen Flimm's staging favouring post-modern architecture and Barenboim's reading showing a fusion of passion and intellect we have two masters clearly enjoying their art.

Christian Franz (Otello), and Emily Magee (Desdemona) head the young ensemble of singers but one could not wish for a more mature performance of some of Verdi's most passionate roles.

Among operas devoted to the subject of jealousy, Giuseppe Verdi's Otello (1887), based on Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, The Moor of Venice (1604), is surely the best known and loved.