Opera - Otello

A live recording of ENO's 1983 production, directed by Jonathan Miller

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901)

Otello

138:06

Dramma lirico in four acts

Libretto by Arrigo Boito after Shakespeare, English translation by Andrew Porter

Act I

Scene 1

'See, the sail there!'

4:22

Chorus, Montano, Cassio, Iago, Roderigo

'Oh rejoice now!'

2:17

Otello, Chorus

'Roderigo, speak up'

2:45

Iago, Roderigo

'Flame of rejoicing!'

2:23

Chorus

'Roderigo, drink up!'

1:36

Iago, Cassio, Chorus

Brindisi: 'Good comrades, brave and true'

3:47

Iago, Cassio, Chorus, Roderigo

'Captain Cassio, the guard awaits your orders'

1:15

Montano, Cassio, Iago, Chorus

Scene 2

'Your swords cast before me!'

3:07

Otello, Iago, Cassio, Montano

Scene 3

'Now in the silent darkness'

2:30

Otello, Desdemona

'Once when you told me of your life in exile'

7:33

Desdemona, Otello

Act II

Scene 1

'Don't give up hope, but trust in me'

2:42

Iago, Cassio

Scene 2

'Take it; take the path to your ruin'

0:32

Yes, I believe in a God who has created me'

4:25

'There she is . . . Cassio . . . your chance . . .'

1:23

Scene 3

'How distressing . . '

2:52

'Beware, O my lord, beware of jealousy'

2:17

Iago, Otello

'At your glances, flame in our hearts'

4:01

Chorus, Desdemona, Otello, Iago

Scene 4

'I come from someone who has felt your anger'

2:22

Desdemona, Otello

'Grant me, oh grant me sweet words of pardon'

2:55

Desdemona, Otello, Iago, Emilia

Scene 5

'Desdemona guilty!'

1:41

'Now and forever farewell'

2:10

'By all creation! Can I believe in Desdemona?'

1:24

Otello, Iago

'Darkness had fallen, Cassio was sleeping . . .'

4:37

Iago, Otello

'See me swear, you heavens above me!'

3:01

Otelo, Iago

Act III

Scene 1

'I bring word that the watchman at the harbour'

2:54

Herald, Otello, Iago

Scene 2

'God give you joy, Otello'

3:12

'You are trying to tease me'

6:59

Desdemona, Otello

Scene 3

'God! Had it pleased you to try me with affliction'

4:22

Scene 4

'Ah! Damned for ever!'

Otello, Iago

Scene 5

'Come now; the hall's deserted'

3:52

Iago, Cassio, Otello

'This is a cobweb, men are flies'

1:56

Iago, Cassio

Scene 6

'How shall I take her life?'

1:14

Otello, Iago, Chorus

Scene 7

'Hail him! All hail him!'

3:43

Chorus, Lodovico, Otello, Desdemona, Emilia, Iago

Scene 8

'All hear me! The Doge . . .'

1:49

Otello, Roderigo, Iago, Cassio, Lodovico

'I lie here! Yes: I lie in the dust here . . .'

3:40

Desdemona, Emilia, Roderigo, Cassio, Lodovico, Chorus, Iago, Otello

'All in this day of glory rejoice'

1:56

Iago, Chorus, Otello, Lodovico, Desdemona

Scene 9

'But who can flee himself!'

1:53

Otello, Iago, Chorus

Act IV

Scene 1

'Did he seem calmer?'

4:56

'''The poor soul sat sighing beneath a willow . . .'''

7:05

Desdemona, Emilia

Scene 2

'Ave Maria, mother of mercy'

5:01

Desdemona

Scene 3

'Who's there? . . . Otello?'

6:23

Desdemona, Otello

'Calm and cold as the tomb'

2:00

Otello, Emilia, Desdemona

Scene 4

'Who's shouting! Oh God! Ah no!'

1:30

Emilia, Iago, Otello, Cassio, Montano, Lodovico

'Do not fear me'

5:17

Otello, Cassio, Chorus

Charles Craig tenor - Otello

Rosalind Plowright soprano - Desdemona

Neil Howlett baritone - Iago

Shelagh Squires mezzo-soprano - Emilia

Bonaventura Bottone tenor - Cassio

Stuart Kale tenor - Roderigo

Sean Rea bass - Lodovico

Malcolm Rivers baritone - Montano

Gordon Traynor baritone - Herald

Mark Elder

6, 22, 25 & 28 January 1983