Othello a play written by William Shakespeare (See blog: Othello - William Shakespeare), was what inspired Giuseppe Verdi to compose Otello, the opera.
In fact, Verdi stated that:
Otello was one of Verdi's later compositions that depicted his dramatic power. The opera is separated into 4 acts and lasts approximately 2 hours 20 minutes. If you would like to watch the opera with English subtitles you can follow the link here.
(Placido Domingo is in the leading role and that is always a treat!)
Comparing the Shakespearean play to Verdi's opera is quite impressive. Verdi was very loyal to Shakespeare's words and beautifully depicts them through his music.
What drew my attention to the music score however was Act IV Scene 3.
Desdemona is in her room with her servant Emilia expressing her fear of a tragic death while singing the Willow song. Here is the excerpt from the script:
Full Play Script here
In the opera, Giuseppe Verdi, kept the dialogue between Desdemona and Emilia as well as the Willow song in Act IV.
Even though these were translated in Italian, the text is very loyal to Shakespeare's original.
However, to enrich the music and the drama of the scene, Verdi added a prayer after the Willow Song where Desdemona is left alone in her room, kneels down by her bedside and prays to Virgin Mary.
You can have a listen to the Willow Song and Ave Maria (Piangea Cantanto - Ave Maria) in the following link sang by Maria Callas.
Opera would be considered by many as boring arguing that:
'What is the point in watching the opera, when you can just watch the play, which you will understand better?'
But...
If the play can draw you in the plot and awaken your emotions, can you imagine how intense your emotions would be after listening to a full orchestra playing dramatic music and actors depicting the drama of the plot not only through their actions but through their singing voices too?
Can you imagine how powerfully moved you will be after the performance?
How interesting would it be to read Shakespeare's script before attending an operatic performance?
What about attending the performance of the play and then the opera to see how each one differs?
Or maybe watch both the play and the opera online and figure out the composers process when setting the play into the music?
Sometimes being open to new sound worlds can help us not only discover new meanings, but broaden our understanding of existing ones.
Reference: Schwarm, Betsy and Cantoni, Linda. 'Otello: Opera By Verdi', Encyclopedia Britannica, (2019), [ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Otello-opera-by-Verdi#ref311601 ], accessed on 22Feb19.
©2019
'He [Shakespeare] is one of my very special poets, and I have had him in my hands from my earliest youth, and I read and reread him continually'.
Otello was one of Verdi's later compositions that depicted his dramatic power. The opera is separated into 4 acts and lasts approximately 2 hours 20 minutes. If you would like to watch the opera with English subtitles you can follow the link here.
(Placido Domingo is in the leading role and that is always a treat!)
Comparing the Shakespearean play to Verdi's opera is quite impressive. Verdi was very loyal to Shakespeare's words and beautifully depicts them through his music.
What drew my attention to the music score however was Act IV Scene 3.
Desdemona is in her room with her servant Emilia expressing her fear of a tragic death while singing the Willow song. Here is the excerpt from the script:
DESDEMONA
It was his bidding: therefore, good Emilia,.
Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu:
We must not now displease him.
EMILIA
I would you had never seen him!
DESDEMONA
So would not I my love doth so approve him,
That even his stubbornness, his cheques, his frowns--
Prithee, unpin me,--have grace and favour in them.
EMILIA
I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.
DESDEMONA
All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds!
If I do die before thee prithee, shroud me
In one of those same sheets.
EMILIA
Come, come you talk.
DESDEMONA
My mother had a maid call'd Barbara:
She was in love, and he she loved proved mad
And did forsake her: she had a song of 'willow;'
An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,
And she died singing it: that song to-night
Will not go from my mind; I have much to do,
But to go hang my head all at one side,
And sing it like poor Barbara. Prithee, dispatch.
EMILIA
Shall I go fetch your night-gown?
DESDEMONA
No, unpin me here.
This Lodovico is a proper man.
EMILIA
A very handsome man.
DESDEMONA
He speaks well.
EMILIA
I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot
to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.
DESDEMONA
[Singing] The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow:
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow:
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;
Sing willow, willow, willow;
Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;
Lay by these:--
Singing
Sing willow, willow, willow;
Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon:--
Singing
Sing all a green willow must be my garland.
Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,-
Nay, that's not next.--Hark! who is't that knocks?
EMILIA
It's the wind.
DESDEMONA
[Singing] I call'd my love false love; but what
said he then?
Sing willow, willow, willow:
If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men!
So, get thee gone; good night Ate eyes do itch;
Doth that bode weeping?
In the opera, Giuseppe Verdi, kept the dialogue between Desdemona and Emilia as well as the Willow song in Act IV.
Even though these were translated in Italian, the text is very loyal to Shakespeare's original.
However, to enrich the music and the drama of the scene, Verdi added a prayer after the Willow Song where Desdemona is left alone in her room, kneels down by her bedside and prays to Virgin Mary.
You can have a listen to the Willow Song and Ave Maria (Piangea Cantanto - Ave Maria) in the following link sang by Maria Callas.
Opera would be considered by many as boring arguing that:
'What is the point in watching the opera, when you can just watch the play, which you will understand better?'
But...
If the play can draw you in the plot and awaken your emotions, can you imagine how intense your emotions would be after listening to a full orchestra playing dramatic music and actors depicting the drama of the plot not only through their actions but through their singing voices too?
Can you imagine how powerfully moved you will be after the performance?
How interesting would it be to read Shakespeare's script before attending an operatic performance?
What about attending the performance of the play and then the opera to see how each one differs?
Or maybe watch both the play and the opera online and figure out the composers process when setting the play into the music?
Sometimes being open to new sound worlds can help us not only discover new meanings, but broaden our understanding of existing ones.
Reference: Schwarm, Betsy and Cantoni, Linda. 'Otello: Opera By Verdi', Encyclopedia Britannica, (2019), [ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Otello-opera-by-Verdi#ref311601 ], accessed on 22Feb19.
©2019
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