Opera on TV: Othello on BBC2 Saturday 19:02:01

[Chris Newman]

In case people have not noticed, this gripping performance from Birmingham is still on iPlayer for a few more days. Graham Vick (director) gets a magnificent team of professional soloist, and amateur chorus, actors and dancers to outdo many fully professional experiences. Stephen Barlow (Mr J. Lumley)'s orchestra are superb.

Anybody unmoved by Stephanie Conley's Willow Song and Prayer has a heart of stone.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00yzgpl/Verdis_Othello/

[Sparafucile]

Hi all,
I watched it, riveted. The preceding documentary was enjoyable too. I have arranged for a friend, with the facilities to do so, to record it onto DVD for me. Right from the beginning, I was wishing I'd had the good fortune to have been there; I can only imagine what a viscerally satisfying experience that must have been.

[Donnie Essen]

I saw about half of this and thought it was awesome. I'd have loved to have been present. Looked like an incredible experience.

I didn't see the documentary, though. From where was the audience plucked? It didn't look like a typical opera audience. Where was the sea of grey? It was a real mix of age, class and ethnicity. Was it a specially picked audience, kinda related to the performers, or did older folk just stay away, given what was involved?

[ostuni]

As I said in the other thread, I was there for one of the performances, and it was a marvellous experience. Birmingham Opera has quite a track record now of putting on brilliant productions in unusual locations - but it's these locations (in this case, a disused factory/warehouse in the outer-inner city area) which attract a very different sort of audience from those we saw at Parsifal a few nights ago. The production quickly sold out, so Vick is certainly doing something right. Mrs Ostuni was playing in the band, so never got to see much of the action: we're looking forward to watching the recording some evening soon.

[Auferstehen2]

Ahem…

Forgive my ignorance, but if this is the Verdi opera, then I’m ashamed to say I don’t know the work at all – time to put this right. I’m thinking of getting Toscanini’s version – is this a good idea? Obviously, we don’t get BBC broadcasts abroad.

Mario

[Pianorak]

Ahem…

Forgive my ignorance, but if this is the Verdi opera, then I’m ashamed to say I don’t know the work at all – time to put this right. I’m thinking of getting Toscanini’s version – is this a good idea? Obviously, we don’t get BBC broadcasts abroad. Mario

Don't know about the best CD recording. But as an introduction to this opera you might like to watch the Zeffirelli film with Placido Domingo. Available on DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Otello-DVD-P...8496234&sr=8-1

[Mandryka]

Don't know about the best CD recording. But as an introduction to this opera you might like to watch the Zeffirelli film with Placido Domingo. Available on DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Otello-DVD-P...8496234&sr=8-1

The problem with that film is that it chops the story and the score around.

The Toscanini version is very highly rated and is as cheap as chips these days. For stereo, you're probably best going with one of Placido Domingo's recordings (there are four official ones), or - my own personal choice - Serafin's RCA set with Vickers, Gobbi and Rysanek.

[BBMmk2]

I saw this and I thought, yes, the singing was great, but the production I didn't like at all!

[Auferstehen2]

Cor, just when you think you’ve found the answer…

I was very grateful to Pianorak for the DVD pointer, but Mandryka’s point could be an obstacle to a newcomer like me. And then he complicates my choice further with Serafin.

Now, I have a lot of time for Tullio, but his speeds are stratospheric aren’t they?

Thanks for the help,

Mario

[aeolium]

I like Furtwängler's Salzburg Festival performance with Ramon Vinay and Paul Schöffler inter al:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Otello-Comp-Verdi/dp/B000B9EY4S

You can listen to samples on that site and also on Youtube.

[Pianorak]

Cor, just when you think you’ve found the answer…

I was very grateful to Pianorak for the DVD pointer, but Mandryka’s point could be an obstacle to a newcomer like me.

That's why I said "as an introduction" - Should have put in bold.

[Auferstehen2]

That's why I said "as an introduction" - Should have put in bold.

I did sound ungrateful, didn't I? I AM sorry Pianorak, my rudeness was unintentional and, notwithstanding any obstacles, I shall probably take your wise advice.

Thank you,

Mario

[LHC]

I think the safest recommendation for Otello on DVD is probably the Opera House production with Domingo:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdi-Otello-NTSC-Placido-Domingo/dp/B0015XMB5I/ref=sr_1_2?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1298553182&sr=1-2

Although it's a shame it wasn't recorded when the production premiered with Domingo and Margaret Price, conducted by Carlos Kleiber.

I also enjoyed this DVD:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdi-Otello-Recorded-Barcelona-Blu-ray/dp/B002NUYK9C/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1298553477&sr=1-6

Cura is not to everyone's taste as Otello, but he's on good form here and the Willy Decker production is superb.

As has already been said, Domingo's CD recordings are also a safe bet, the best probably being with Levine on RCA. A also agree that the Serafin is a very fine performance with Vickers in majesterial form (much better than the later Karajan recording). Karajan's first decca recording with del Monaco is also worth hearing.

[Pianorak]

I did sound ungrateful, didn't I?

Mario, nothing of the kind! I was fully aware of its shortcomings and should have highlighted them. I didn't know there was a DVD of the ROH Otello production mentioned by LHC. If I were you I'd go for that rather than the Zeffirelli one.
bws