Georg Solti, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi: Otello (2008/1992)
Georg Solti, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Plácido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi: Otello (2008/1992)
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR| Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | 7.73 Gb (DVD9) | 145 min
Classical | Opus Arte | Sub: English
NTSC 4:3 (720x480) VBR| Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | 7.73 Gb (DVD9) | 145 min
Classical | Opus Arte | Sub: English
A dream team had been assembled at London’s Royal Opera House for this 1992 performance of Verdi’s Otello. Placido Domingo, uninhibited in the use of his vast vocal power, was the commanding Otello; Kiri Te Kanawa a more sturdy Desdemona than the fragile female often portrayed, while Sergei Leiferkus’s Iago is totally convincing by avoiding those sneering gestures that are too often seen. In the pit was Georg Solti whipping the orchestra into a fury as the opening storm is unleashed, but later on can show some impatience in his choice of tempos. The production was, in the best use of the term, ‘traditional’ and came from Elijah Moshinsky, his set designer, Timothy O’Brian, creating a massive edifice that has to serve all of four acts, leaving the final bedroom scene working in an area that is too large. The minor characters were in the hands of the Royal Opera’s frequent faces, Ramon Remedios’s Rodrigo and Robin Leggate’s Cassio particularly effective. The opening act does seem to suffer some microphone problems, Otello’s first entrance lacking impact, and the left hand side of the stage more responsive to voices than the right, where they are rather lightweight. Throughout the acting is good, though it is Domingo who sets the standard, his picture of the Moor probably the most persuasive and complete of any we will ever see. And a very special word for the chorus who add greatly to the potency of the first act. (David Denton)
Cast:
Otello - Plácido Domingo
Desdemona - Kiri Te Kanawa
Jago - Sergei Leiferkus
Emilia - Claire Powell
Cassio - Robin Leggate
Roderigo - Ramon Remedios
Lodovico - Mark Beesley
Montano - Roderick Earle
Un Araldo - Christopher Schaldenbrand
The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor - Sir Georg Solti
Georg Solti, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi: Otello (2008/1992)
Georg Solti, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi: Otello (2008/1992)
Georg Solti, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi: Otello (2008/1992)
Georg Solti, The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Placido Domingo, Kiri Te Kanawa - Verdi: Otello (2008/1992)
