Otello

• Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
• Librettist: Arrigo Boito
• Source: Othello, tragedy by William Shakespeare, based on a story in Gli Hecatommithi by Cinthio (Giovanni Battista Giraldi, 1504-1573)
• First performance: Teatro alla Scala, Milan; 5 February 1887
• Performance History
• Libretto:
  • OperaGlass
  • Libretti Home-Page
  • Fondazione Verdi
  • Kareol (Italiano / Español)
• Synopses:
  • OperaGlass
  • Fondazione Verdi
• Ballàbili / the Ballet
• Ricordi's Disposizione Scenica
• Boito's Characterizations
• Discography
• Bibliography

Dramatis Personæ

Otello, a Moor, general of the Venetian armada (Primo tenore)

Jago, an ensign (Primo baritono)

Cassio, a squadron commander (Tenore)

Roderigo, Venetian gentleman (Tenore)

Lodovico, ambassador of the Venetian Republic (Basso)

Montano, Otello's predecessor as governor of the island of Cyprus (Basso)

Un araldo [a herald] (Basso)

Desdemona, Otello's wife (Prima donna soprano)

Emilia, Jago's wife (Mezzo-soprano)

Soldati e Marinai della Repubblica Venetia; Gentildonne e Gentiluomini Veneziani; Popolani Cipriotti d'ambo i sessi; Uomini d'arme Greci, Dalmati, Albanesi; Fanciulli dell'isola; Un Taverniere; Quattro servi di taverna; Bassa ciurma
[Soldiers and sailors of the Venetian Republic; Venetian ladies and gentlemen; Cypriot citizens of both sexes; Greek, Dalmatian, and Albanian men-at-arms; Island children; An innkeeper; Four servants; Ship's gang]

Setting: A coastal town on the island of Cyprus
Time: End of the 15th century.

Orchestra

• 3 Flauti (e Ottavino) / 2 Oboi / Corno Inglese / Cornamuse (oppure 2 Oboi) / 2 Clarini / Clarone / 4 Fagotti
• 4 Corni / 2 Cornette / 2 Trombe / 4 Tromboni
• Timpani / 2 Gran Casse / Piatti / Tam-tam / Cannone (per i Ballibili)
• 2 Arpe / Mandolini (opp. 2 Arpe) / Chitarre / (opp. 2 Arpe)
• Violini / Viole / Violoncelli / Contrabassi
• Sul palco: Lampi e Fulmini / Tuono / Organo / 6 Trombe / 4 Tromboni / Tamburo (per i Ballibili)

contributed by Stephen L. Parker and Richard Bogart