In creating the characters for his master play Othello, Shakespeare combined the most devastating but inexorable human traits: arrogance, insecurity, envy and jealousy. Othello, his Venetian general, is defending the Cypriots against Turkish invasion but becomes obsessed with rumours of his wife ́s infidelity, implied by his ensign, Iago.

For BNO’s theatrical performances, with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra on stage and the drama swirling around them, we see the return to Bergen of monumental performers: Stuart Skelton - recently our heartwrenching Peter Grimes, with Latonia Moore and Lester Lynch, unforgettable in BNO’s 2014 Aida.

Otello by Verdi is directed and lit by award-winning Peter Mumford and conducted by Edward Gardner.

"Not since Domingo in his prime can this music have been sung with more complete assurance" - The Telegraph on Stuart Skelton as Otello at English National Opera (2014)

"A remarkable voice, wonderful in its amplitude at full throttle, yet also capable of sustaining beautiful, rapt pianissimos. This is one of the finest performances of the role to be heard in London for many years.” - The Guardian on Latonia Moore as Aida at English National Opera (2017)

Giuseppe Verdi/ Music
Arrigo Boito / Libretto, based on Shakespeare

Staged concert in four acts
Sung in Italian, texted in Norwegian
Duration: 2 hours and 50 minutes incl. 30 min break
Introduction 1 hour before the performance by Gunnar Danbolt 11th and 15th December and Nicolai Riise 13th December

Presented by Bergen National Opera and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Choirs:
Bergen Philharmonic Choir
Edvard Grieg Kor
Collegiûm Mûsicûm Kor
Bergen pikekor og Bergen guttekor