Thomas Hampson turned to the dark side last week with his first Iago in Verdi's Otello. The American baritone rolled out the role premiere at Opernhaus Zürich in a new production of Verdi's Otello directed by Graham Vick. The British opera director's provocative, politically-polarizing production cast Fiorenza Cedolins as Desdemona, Jose Cura as Otello, and Daniele Gatti as the Conductor lol, all who exited to a rave review. Photos above and below are from a dress rehearsal earlier this month.
<
Cedolins and Cura
Arab spring?
Posted by: Paolo M. | October 26, 2011 at 08:12 PM
I guess khaki is the new denim and is relatively cheap to use for costumes. But, will Donatella embrace it?
Posted by: Bill Philin-Ploplis | October 26, 2011 at 11:56 PM
(Whoops! I meant camouflage!)
Posted by: Bill Philin-Ploplis | October 26, 2011 at 11:57 PM
Great premiere.
Musically the best Verdi performance I assisted this year.
Thanks, maestro Gatti!
Posted by: fruake | October 27, 2011 at 09:08 AM
I'm fed up with these near east interpretations. By the way Cura sings what he wants. It's not always Verdi.
Posted by: Richie | October 27, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Looks like an America-colonises-the-middle-east-for-its-oil theme.
Posted by: Rose-Mary Hyslop | October 28, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Looks like Tom brought one of his outfits from SF Opera's *Heart of a Soldier*! (Which was, by the way, excellent!)
Posted by: Lilacrobin | October 29, 2011 at 02:25 AM
I thought blackface make-up was anathema in the entertainment industry!
Posted by: Bill Philin-Ploplis | October 29, 2011 at 01:54 PM
I will attend!
Posted by: Chiara | November 10, 2011 at 12:17 PM