Otello (Rossini)

Otello (Italian pronunciation: [oˈtɛllo]) is an opera in three acts by Gioachino Rossini to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Berio di Salsi, based on Shakespeare's play Othello.

However, the opera deviates heavily from Shakespeare's original, not only in that it takes place in Venice and not on Cyprus, but also in that the whole dramatic conflict develops in a different manner. The role of Iago is reduced to some degree, and it is much less diabolical than in the original or in Verdi's Otello of 1887. In further contrast, the role of Rodrigo, of subsidiary importance in Shakespeare and Verdi, is very prominent in Rossini's version and is assigned some of the most difficult and brilliant music. The roles of Otello, Iago, and Rodrigo are all composed for the tenor voice.

Rossini's Otello is an important milestone in the development of opera as musical drama. It provided Giuseppe Verdi with a benchmark for his own adaptations of Shakespeare. A 1999 Opera Rara CD of the opera includes an alternative happy ending, a common practice with drama and opera at that period of the 19th Century.

Otello

Otello (Italian pronunciation: [oˈtɛllo]) is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play Othello. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on 5 February 1887.

With the composer's reluctance to write anything new after the success of Aida in 1871 and his retreat into retirement, it took his Milan publisher Giulio Ricordi the next ten years, first to persuade him to write anything, then to encourage the revision of Verdi's 1857 Simon Boccanegra by introducing Boito as librettist, and finally to begin the arduous process of persuading and cajoling Verdi to see Boito's completed libretto for Otello in July/August 1881. However, the process of writing the first drafts of the libretto and the years of their revision, with Verdi all along not promising anything, dragged on, and it wasn't until 1884, five years after the first drafts of the libretto, that composition began, with most of the work finishing in late 1885. When it finally premièred in Milan on 5 February 1887, it proved to be a resounding success, and further stagings of Otello soon followed at leading theatres throughout Europe and America.

Othello (disambiguation)

Othello is a play by William Shakespeare and the name of its title protagonist, Othello (character).

Othello or Otello may also refer to:

Theatre

Film

Otello (Toscanini recording)

The 1947 recording of Verdi's Otello by Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra and chorus, is regarded as one of the most notable early Verdi opera recordings. The role of Otello was sung by Ramón Vinay, Desdemona by Herva Nelli, and Iago by Giuseppe Valdengo.

The recording was made from NBC broadcast performances recorded in Studio 8H, New York City on 6 and 13 December 1947. Rehearsals on 4 and 5 December preceded the first recording session, and a third rehearsal on the 12th preceded the second session. The names of NBC's producer and balance engineer are unknown. As far as the original broadcast, much of NBC's network did not hear the full opera as intended. While NBC in New York moved sponsor Ford Motor company's advertisements into after the 6:30 evening meal slot, giving the extra fifteen minutes needed from 6:15 to the 6:30 to allow the full broadcast of the first half of the opera many affiliates either did not carry the broadcasts or filled the slot with the Answer Man programme.

Surname

A surname or family name is a name added to a given name. In many cases, a surname is a family name and many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name". In the western hemisphere, it is commonly synonymous with last name because it is usually placed at the end of a person's given name.

In most Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries, two or more last names (or surnames) may be used. In China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Taiwan, Vietnam, and parts of India, the family name is placed before a person's given name.

The style of having both a family name (surname) and a given name (forename) is far from universal. In many countries, it is common for ordinary people to have only one name or mononym.

The concept of a "surname" is a relatively recent historical development, evolving from a medieval naming practice called a "byname". Based on an individual's occupation or area of residence, a byname would be used in situations where more than one person had the same name.

Rossini (surname)

Rossini may refer to:

See also

Rossini (cocktail)

The Rossini is a type of alcoholic mixed drink made with sweet sparkling wine (prosecco) and puréed strawberries. The cocktail features the most popular alternative to the classic Bellini.

The name origin

The drink was named after the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini.

Preparation

Being the variation of Bellini, Rossini is based on the same preparation. Cut two thick slices from one strawberry and reserve. Puree the remaining strawberries and pour into two champagne flutes. Top up with Prosecco and serve with the strawberry slice on the rim of the glass.

Variations

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See also

References