show category: opera

Opera in Four Acts on a Libretto by Arrigo Boito, Based on the Play Othello by William Shakespeare

Otello is the opera that, at its premiere at La Scala in Milan in 1887, prompted the audience to call the performers back to the stage no fewer than 20 times, with the exclamation: “VIVA Verdi!” – a composer whose name is synonymous with opera.

Verdi’s creation par excellence represents an astonishing fusion of music and dramatic art, a masterpiece that stands out not only for its philosophical depth but also proves to be deeply moving and thrilling from a theatrical perspective.

The story of the famous libretto belongs to Shakespeare, centering on the hero Otello, whose behavior unravels when jealousy spirals out of control as he comes to believe that his beloved and pure Desdemona has betrayed him. This sets off a dark and harrowing revenge, pushing love to the boundary between the divine and the infernal, leading to a tragic and unjust ending.

Unusually, the symbol of this tragedy, entrusted to carry the narrative thread, is not an object suggesting gravitas or drama but rather takes the form of a simple handkerchief. The fact that such an insignificant object holds decisive weight in the work underscores the sensitivity of jealous minds and how small incidents, psychologically exaggerated, transform into “proofs” of love or betrayal.

The performance includes three intermissions and concludes at approximately 9:45 PM.

The performance is interpreted in Italian with Romanian supertitles.

Recommended age: 14+