Verdi - Otello (James Levine, Jon Vickers, Renata Scotto) [2009]

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Verdi - Otello (James Levine, Jon Vickers, Renata Scotto) [2009]

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In 1977, when New York’s Metropolitan Opera began its series of telecasts known originally as Live from the Met, there was, I remember, speculation that eventually the entire season’s operas would be telecast in a parallel to the radio broadcasts that had been a part of the Met’s history for so long. This prediction never came to fruition and probably was never the intention. But we were privileged to see usually three broadcasts per season, with many productions helping to introduce opera to a broader public than could be expected to see the operas in the theater. This 1978 telecast of Otello is one of the early triumphs of the series. Cast, conductor, orchestra, chorus, and set designer all combine for a riveting performance well worth acquiring.
Jon Vickers is a tenor whose voice I found it difficult to appreciate. He has been called an “acquired taste,” and I for one never acquired it. His performance here, however, does much to change my mind. As Otello, at least, he is magnificent. His voice fits the character in all its changes. His voice has the strength of command in act I but is also capable of scaling back to represent the ardent lover in his duet with Desdemona. And so it goes through the remaining three acts. This is a nuanced, magnificent portrayal.
Renata Scotto is excellent as Desdemona. She is not merely the loving and wronged wife but presents a strong character who married Otello in defiance of her father and can plead Casio’s case to her husband despite his attempts to dissuade her. There is no hint in her beautiful singing of the vocal problems that occasionally plagued her later in her career. Cornell MacNeil is steady and powerful as Iago. All of the lesser roles are well cast with very good singers. There are no weaknesses in the singing roles.
James Levine leads a performance that is faithful to the score and supportive of the singers. The chorus and, especially, the orchestra are excellent.
The camera allows us to appreciate the high level of acting from the entire cast. The singers actually interact with each other, and their facial expressions are perfectly attuned to the dramatic situation, although MacNeil occasionally drifts into mugging. The production is greatly helped by Franco Zeffirelli’s traditional sets; what a pleasure it is to see a stage designer who puts his art to the service of the composer and poet rather than his own ego. There are occasional directorial missteps, however. The lighting, especially in act I, is a bit dark. When Desdemona appears in act I, she is supposed to have been disturbed from sleep, but she enters fully dressed, with her hair pinned up, something she could not have had time for. In the act I duet, the close-ups show us that Otello and Desdemona do not actually kiss. But these are minor quibbles.
There are no bonus features. Subtitles are available in English.
If you are looking to acquire your first Otello video, or you wish a supplement to one of Plácido Domingo’s portrayals (including a Metropolitan production from 1996), you couldn’t do better than this one.
FANFARE: Ron Salemi

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Verdi - Otello (James Levine, Jon Vickers, Renata Scotto) [2009]

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