2016 is the year of Shakespeare. Why? Because this year marks exactly 400 years since his death. On this occasion, many Slovenian cultural institutions are preparing events that will honor this important anniversary, and among them are SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana and Cankarjev dom. In the latter, on January 21, the premiere of Verdi's famous opera Otello will take place, which will be performed by the soloists, choir and orchestra of SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana.
Shakespeare is a tragedy Othello wrote in 1603. The Italian composer was fascinated by Othello and other works of Shakespeare from a very early age Giuseppe Verdi, who repeatedly expressed his affection for the great dramatist by saying that Shakespeare is considered "the authority of the human world". His positive attitude towards Shakespeare was thus undoubtedly expressed in his masterpiece, the opera Otello, which was a great success when it was first performed in Milan's Scala in 1877.
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Otello, an opera in four acts, is today considered Verdi's best work. The libretto was written in Italian by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play. The story of the fragile love between the Moorish commander, the hero Othello, and the beautiful daughter of the Venetian senator, Desdemona, turns into a tragic storm of events, when the latter is seduced by intrigue, resentment, envy and arrogance.
Creation of the opera Otello:
As part of the many events that will be held this year on the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death took place on the stages of Slovenian and world theaters, on January 21st the premiere of Otello will be on the stage of the Gallus Hall of Cankarjev dom, in co-production with SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana. He will take care of the direction Manfred Schweigkofler, and Jaroslav Kyzlink will conduct. Michal Lehotsky and Branko Robinšak will play Otello, and Urška Breznik and Martina Zadro will play Desdemona. The masterpiece will be on display ten times: premiering on January 21, and then on January 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 31 and February 2 and 3.
Creation of the opera Otello (masque):
More information and tickets:
www.cd-cc.si
www.opera.si