Opera title: | Otello |
Composer: | Giuseppe Verdi |
Language: | Italian |
Synopsis: | Otello Synopsis |
Libretto: | Otello Libretto |
Translation(s): | English Deutsch |
Type: | aria |
Role(s): | Iago |
Voice(s): | Baritone |
Act: | 2.03 |
| Previous scene: | Vanne la tua meta gia vedo |
| Next scene: | Eccola Cassio a te |
Dmitri Hvorostovsky irrevocably laid his mark on the table of art and in the history of opera, among the greatest.
He became a legend in his life, he has become a myth today.
There can be no doubt about his artistic greatness, his results can never be questioned by anyone.
At the height of his power, he played the role of Iago in the Wiener Staatsoper, which was not recorded, but this low-quality but even more valuable video recording is available. I, and an infinite number of opera lovers, would be happy to see this performance by Dmitri Hvorostovsky, courtesy of the Vienna House. It is also a known fact that one of his closest plans was to shape Macbeth, which could no longer take place. At the same time, I believe and confess that as a Macbeth and in other serious baritone roles like (Scarpia, Boris Godunov), he would have brought the same excellence to his dear audience as Iago.
Amazing! Wonderful! The sound is as smooth and light yet dark as the heavy, black velvet, and impressively rich!
Genius!
I am grateful to Gertrud Eszes, without whose help the video could not have been created.
Wiener Staatsoper, September 2013 - Verdi: Otello
Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the Otello: Iago
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Cast:
Othello: Jose Cura
Iago: Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Desdemona: Anja Harteros
Cassio: Marian Talaba
Roderigo: Jinxu Xiahou
Emilia: Monika Bohinec
Lodovico: Alexandru Moisiuc
Montano: Mikhail Dogotari
Conductor: Dan Ettinger
From Criticism: Dmitri Hvorostovsky is a god among men thatportrayed Iago, ensign Otello's. With shining white ponytail, black leather clothing and tattoos he was the epitome of the mocking traitor in the devastation of Otello. It was literally enormous anderisived easily played the role, combining technical perfection with brilliant color choices and clear text rendering. The II. in act, he paid particular attention to promoting a nihilistic worldview in "Credo in un Dio crudel" tuned to bitter sarcasm. No less impressive was the simple purity with which she performed "Era la notte Cassio dormia". It was audible in the back, even the softest sound.It is rare for a baritone to be consistently better heard than the leading tenor but this was the case now. Hvorostovsky's voice alone made the performance exceptional.
"This is not a mentally distorted Iago, not a demonic idiot, but the 'evil' personally with all his aristocracy."
JAGO
allontanandosi dal verone seza più guardar Cassio che sarà scomparso fra gli alberi
Credo in un Dio crudel che m'ha creato
simile a sè e che nell'ira io nomo.
Dalla viltà d'un germe o d'un atòmo
vile son nato.
Son scellerato
perchè son uomo;
e sento il fango originario in me.
Sì! questa è la mia fe'!
Credo con fermo cuor, siccome crede
la vedovella al tempio,
che il mal ch'io penso e che da me procede,
per il mio destino adempio.
Credo che il guisto è un istrion beffardo,
e nel viso e nel cuor,
che tutto è in lui bugiardo:
lagrima, bacio, sguardo,
sacrificio ed onor.
E credo l'uom gioco d'iniqua sorte
dal germe della culla
al verme dell'avel.
Vien dopo tanta irrision la Morte.
E poi? E poi? La Morte è il Nulla.
è vecchia fola il Ciel.
Si vede passare nel giardino Desdemona con Emilia. Jago si slacia al verone, al di là del quale è appostato
IAGO
(walking away from the terrace without another glance
at Cassio, who has now vanished among the trees)
I believe in a cruel God
who created me in his image
and who in fury I name.
From the very vileness of a germ
or an atom, vile was I born.
I am a wretch because I am a man,
and I feel within me the primeval slime.
Yes! This is my creed!
I believe with a heart as steadfast
as that of the widow in church,
that the evil I think
and that which I perform
I think and do by destiny’s decree.
I believe the just man to be a mocking actor
in face and heart;
that all his being is a lie,
tear, kiss, glance,
sacrifice and honour.
And I believe man the sport of evil fate
from the germ of the cradle
to the worm of the grave.
After all this mockery then comes Death.
And then?... And then?
Death is nothingness,
heaven an old wives’ tale.
(Desdemona appears, walking in the garden with Emilia.
Iago darts to the terrace, on the other side of which
Cassio is standing.)

Titta Ruffo
| Sheetmusic for aria | |
| Sheetmusic for opera | |
| MP3's for this aria | on Amazon.com |
| DVD/CD's for this opera | on Amazon.com |