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 |
Video clips referenced during the Conversation:
1. “Credo in un Dio crudel” – Otello (Verdi) 2. “Maria” – West Side Story (Bernstein)
3. Bevery Sills Tribute – Kennedy Center Honors (1985)
4. “Cecilia” – Love, Sidney (Episode 44: "Surprise Party", June 6, 1983)
5. “Si, pel ciel” – Otello (Verdi)
* Note, this video has been edited to exclude all video clips shown during the event
Legendary baritone Sherrill Milnes shares stories and video clips from his long and illustrious career during an intimate conversation with OPERA America President/CEO Marc A. Scorca. The clips range from collaborations with such fellow legends as Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti to Hollywood stars Carol Burnett, Burt Lancaster and Tony Randall. Milnes celebrates a milestone year in 2015, with his 80th birthday on January 10 and the 50th anniversary of his Metropolitan Opera debut on December 22. The definitive Verdi baritone of his generation and winner of three Grammy Awards continues his work today with the next generation opera singers through the Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs.
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 |