Verdi’s adaptation of a Shakespearean tragedy follows the Moorish general Otello, whose mind is poisoned by his malicious ensign, Iago, into believe his innocent wife, Desdemona, is unfaithful. Otello is the latest Verdi opera that I have had the good fortune to be involved, following La traviata, Rigoletto, Macbeth, and Nabucco.

I am especially looking forward to sharing this stage with baritone Iain MacNeil, with whom I had the good fortune of spending five weeks in Austria at the prestigious Franz-Schubert-Institut. I’m really excited to see what Iain brings to the pivotal role of Iago for this production.

Verdi’s OTELLO
Conducted by Jonathan Brandani
Featuring Marcelo Puente as Otello
Anna Pompeeva as Desdemona
Iain MacNeil as Iago
Directed by Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan

with Adrian Kramer as Cassio
Simona Genga as Emilia
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega as Ludovico
Matthew Bermudez as Roderigo
George Theodorakopoulos as Montano and a Herald