Monday, July 13, 2015

Italy: Rossini's “Othello” returns to La Scala in Milan after 150 years


Rossini’s famous masterpiece “Othello” is returning  to La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy after 150 years. The opera, which premiered in 1816 to huge success in Naples was composed more than 70 years before Verdi’s version. Rossini’s “Othello” is only loosely based on the Shakespearean tragedy and is directed by Muhai Tang.

Juan Diego Flórez, who is performing the role of Rodrigo, was quick to show his admiration for Rossini.“I adore Rossini. His music is like champagne, said the Peruvian tenor. “ He wrote for specific singers and we in a way have to get into their shoes.
Flórez, who is considered to be the best Rossini tenor of his generation, added that his dream would be to journey back in time and meet the Italian composer in person.Russian soprano Olga Peretyatko feels the same way about the composer, whose masterpieces make up a big part of her repertoire.‘‘You have to be physically fit to be able to sing Rossini, explained Peretyatko. “His music is almost athletic. You need an enormous range, and be totally confident with those top notes and in the low and middle range. It needs to be both tender and strong. I’d say that if you can sing Rossini, you can sing anything.’‘A love triangle, jealousy and a difficult father-daughter relationship are at the heart of the opera that marks a milestone in the development of Rossini’s dramatic style.
Euro