Otello (opera) facts for kids

This picture shows the stage set for Act 3 at the first performance of Otello in Milan in 1887.

Otello is a famous opera from Italy. It has four parts, called acts. A very well-known composer named Giuseppe Verdi wrote the music. The story for the opera, called the libretto, was written by Arrigo Boito. It's based on a play called Othello by the famous writer William Shakespeare.

Otello was first performed in Milan on February 5, 1887. Many people think it's one of the greatest music-dramas ever made. Some famous singers who have played the main character, Otello, include Mario Del Monaco, Jon Vickers, and Plácido Domingo.

Meet the Main Characters in Otello

In Otello, there are a few very important characters. Each one has a special singing voice:

• Otello - He is the main character and sings with a tenor voice, which is a high male voice.
• Desdemona - She is the main female character and sings with a soprano voice, which is a high female voice.
• Iago - He is a tricky character and sings with a baritone voice, which is a medium-range male voice.
• Lodovico - He sings with a bass voice, which is a very low male voice.

Images for kids

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  Giuseppe Verdi around 1870.

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  Arrigo Boito and Giuseppe Verdi together.

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  Francesco Tamagno as Otello in 1887. His costume was designed by Alfred Edel.

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  This is a design by Alfredo Edel for Desdemona's costume in Act IV.

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  Romilda Pantaleoni was the first singer to play Desdemona.

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  The stage design for Act 1 of Otello at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, 1887, by Giovanni Zuccarelli.

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  Arnold Azrikan playing the role of Otello.

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  The stage design by Giovanni Zuccarelli for Act IV of Otello at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome, 1887.

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  An illustration from Le Monde illustré showing a performance of Otello in Paris in 1894.

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  This is a model of the stage set for Act 1 of the Paris premiere, made by Marcel Jambon.

See also

In Spanish: Otelo (Verdi) para niños