Search - Giuseppe Verdi, Zubin Mehta, Wiener Staatsopernorchester :: Verdi: Otello

Great night at the Staatsoper

J. Luis Juarez Echenique | Mexico City | 03/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We will never be able to thank ORFEO enough for publishing all these tapes from Vienna, Bayreuth and Salzburg. Just like Muti's fabulous Aida with Tomowa-Sintow and Domingo from Munich, this Otello finds the Spanish tenor and the Bulgarian soprano inspired and on top form. This Otello will have to be counted from now on among Domingo's best. His fiery, fearless interpretation is a wonder, a class-act. Tomowa-Sintow gorgeously sung Desdemona puts Freni and Ricciarelli to the shade, since it is she who has the right voice for the role, besides she sings it with SUCH dignity and elegance, one of the best ever. It is also good to have Renato Bruson's Jago on record. His gorgeous voice is always welcome in Verdi, and his interpretation is interesting, less histrionic than many, the character gains crediblity performed this way, and still sparks fly in an overwhelming "Si, pel ciel".

Zubin Mehta conducts an expert performance. It is obviously less idiomatic than Muti's or Abbado's, but he is considerate to his singers and attentive to the score. The forces of the Staatsoper cover themselves in glory. The sound is very good, clear and defined, though it's recorded a little bit low. All in all an historic document of paramount importance and it would be sheer madness to miss it."