A wife’s innocent devotion…a husband’s murderous rage…
Shakespeare’s most tragic kiss!

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Friday, April 27, 2012 at 8:00pm
Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 2:30pm
at The Historic Tennessee Theatre
Opera preview hosted by Maestro Salesky begins 45 minutes prior to each performance

Thrilling, internationally-renowned tenor Michael Austin stars as the jealous, obsessed Otello. Alluring Greek soprano Kassandra Dimopoulou makes her American debut as the betrayed Desdemona.

In Italian with projected English translations

This production features brief dramatic readings from Shakespeare’s Othello in English during the opera performance.

Thomas Holliday (Stage Director)


JOHN SIPES (Fight Director)


MICHAEL AUSTIN (Otello)


KASSANDRA DIMOPOULOU (Desdemona)


SCOTT BEARDEN (Iago)


ANDREW STENSON (Cassio)


DIXIE ROBERTS (Emillia)


KEVIN THOMPSON (Lodovico)


JESSE STOCK (Montano)

A Word From the Stage Director:
Otello is without question one of the greatest operas ever written. For sure, it’s one of the Big Four of my Top Ten Desert Island Operas. In purely human terms, Otello exposes in depth the major concerns of humanity, hence great operas, literature and theatre: love, sex and death. Shakespeare’s sublime play is one of most probing examinations of the human condition, and the font of some of our most memorable quotes: jealousy as a green-eyed monster, loving well but not wisely, etc. If there’s any regret, it’s that Verdi, who lived into the last century, didn’t get around to Hamlet or King Lear. His late style, Boito’s brilliant adaptation of the play, and their perception of character make Otello a haunting experience; and that’s not even taking into account Verdi’s use of the chorus, the lava-flow that supports the principals’ primary eruption: Everywoman’s, Everyman’s reaction to the joys and terrors of our lives on earth.
-Thomas Holliday, Stage Director, Otello

Verdi’s Otello Synopsis

(Location: Cypress, late 15th century)

Act I: A Quay by the Sea Outside the Castle; Otello, the new governor makes for harbor. The Cypriots watch his ship being tossed about in the storm, but he lands safely and announces the defeat of the Moslems. Roderigo and Iago exchange conversation which is revealed that Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, Otello’s wife. Iago promises to help his case as he confesses that he hates Otello for promoting Cassio over him. He and Roderigo get Cassio drunk and provoke him into a fight. Otello demotes Cassio for misbehaving.

Act II: A Courtyard of Otello’s Castle ; The scene suggests that Iago and Cassio have been into a long conversation. Iago persuades Cassio to ask Desdemona to intervene with Otello on his behalf to be reinstated. However, Iago continues his schemes and evil intentions. When Otello sees Cassio talking to Desdemona, Iago further fuels Otello’s jealousy. He turns a deaf ear when Desdemona pleads for Cassio’s cause. As he throws Desdemona’s handkerchief to the ground, Emilia picks it up, which Iago takes away from her. Completely engulfed with unfounded jealousy, Otello needs proof, which Iago provides through the handkerchief.

Act III: The Great Hall of the Castle; Otello lays a trap for Desdemona and Cassio by demanding that Desdemona show the handkerchief he gave her. When she cannot produce it, he openly accuses her of infidelity which she denies. Greatly enraged, Otello swears to kill his wife the moment Cassio confesses. Otello hides on the terrace while Iago leads on the unsuspecting Cassio. When Cassio produces the handkerchief which Iago has planted on him, Otello has his proof. He promotes Iago to captain. The two men plot the deaths of Cassio and Desdemona.
Trumpets announce the arrival of the Venetian delegates. Lodovico, the Venetian ambassador, arrives and is welcomed by Otello. The ambassador hands him a dispatch. Desdemona this time speaks of Cassio to the ambassador and Otello had to be restrained from striking her, which surprises Lodovico. Otello announces his dispatch and appoints Cassio governor in his absence. Iago is furious and sets Roderigo to attack Cassio. Overcome by emotion, Otello faints.

Act IV: Desdemona’s Bed Chamber; Desdemona, having a premonition of her own death, sings the “Willow Song” her mother sang to her when she was a child and says her prayers. When Otello accuses her of infidelity, she again denies it and protests her innocence. He strangles her. Emilia enters and announces that Cassio has killed Roderigo. Cassio, Lodovico, Montano, and Iago enter. Eventually, Iago’s scheme is revealed from Roderigo’s confession. Iago tries to run out but is pursued by Otello’s men.
Otello gazes at the lifeless Desdemona, and stabs himself. Just before dying he drags himself to kiss his wife.

Read more at Suite101: Giuseppe Verdi Tragic Opera Otello: Plot Synopsis and Character Description of an Italian Tragedy