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Review of Othello

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Submitted By HakimSarr
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OTHELLO

Othello is a tragedy, which is written by the great philosophe William Shakespeare. The act is meant to take place about the year 1603, and based on the Italian novel “Un Capitano Moro” by Cinthio. Now has the modern opera taken it up again and I must say, it is remarkable.

Entering the beautiful building “Det Kongelige Teater” and watching the show was a moving experience which is created by a simplicity and convincing control of resources in the combination of a high musical level, that I haven’t ever seen in my life before. From where I was sitting, the shouts of ‘’bravo!’’ and the applause lasted long and consistently in response to their brilliant performance.

Normally I’m not the type of guy who goes to the opera, but “Othello” made me consider why I haven’t gone before. The setup was great and the art was marvelous with the spectacular music that goes deeply and directly to the heart and soul. “Othello” the play is diabolically evil, painfully beautiful and redeeming, it is a real opera in an incredibly scenic frame.
Otello is the lead character in the play, and his skills did certainly live up to my expectations, and more. The warrior and the jealous husband, who accuse his lovely wife Desdemona for being unfaithful, played safe and sung with a commendable clarity throughout the act.

My favorite though, was the wicked Jago. I noticed that the tone of his voice had many, controlled levels, which was a display of true skill and art. His voice, changing ever so slightly depending on whoever he might persuade to carry out his devious revenge plot, and are drifting dark when he addresses the audience and lets them in on his thoughts and plans.

Desdemona though, she played her part beautifully and especially in the “sleep scene” where the emotions and the setting come in to play for real, and when we here the voice of Desdemona, a slight chill went down my spine. But before long it seemed like she lost part of her creative genius, resulting in a loss of interest in her character on my part.

At the end the opera was majestic in a way I can’t really explain.
Even though Opera might not be my future ‘’Friday-night destination’’, the atmosphere, setting and the beauty of the building itself took me to a place of wonders.
The performance itself took my consciousness back to 1600’s Italy, ‘’I WAS THERE; I WALKED THE STREETS WITH THEM’’
So I will say that the opera achieved its mission.

HAKIM MORTADA 3h
27.11.13

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