Opera Australia presents Otello

Good or evil. Life or death. A flawed hero. An innocent woman. A masterful villain.

Verdi takes the best bits of one of Shakespeare’s most famous works to create a taut, vivid romantic tragedy.

From the almighty storm to Desdemona’s impossibly beautiful Willow Song, the emotional music compounds the tension and coming tragedy.

Verdi’s score demands three outstanding voices, while Shakespeare’s story takes you on a dramatic journey. Yonghoon Lee is a remarkable singer-actor, debuting in the role of Otello, against the incomparable Karah Son making her long-awaited debut as Desdemona. Marco Vratogna is world-renowned for his chilling Iago. Young conducting sensation Andrea Battistoni conducts.

Harry Kupfer’s timeless production explores all the action on a precarious, monumental staircase that dominates the stage. Yan Tax’s costumes would be at home on the most elegant runway.

Conductor - Andrea Battistoni

Director - Harry Kupfer

Revival Director - Luke Joslin

Set Designer - Hans Schavernoch

Costume Designer - Yan Tax

Lighting Designer - Toby Sewell

Cast:

Otello - Yonghoon Lee

Desdemona - Karah Son

Iago - Marco Vratogna

Cassio - Virgilio Marino

Emilia - Sian Sharp

Lodovico - Richard Anderson

Roderigo - Hubert Francis

Montano - Andrew Moran

Herald - Andrew Williams

Opera Australia Chorus

Opera Australia Orchestra