Verdi: Otello

1.01. Otello Act I. Una vela! Una vela!
1.02. Otello Act I. Esultate!
1.03. Otello Act I. Roderigo, ebben, che pensi
1.04. Otello Act I. Fuoco di gioia!
1.05. Otello Act I. Inaffia l’ugola!
1.06. Otello Act I. Capitano, v’attende la fazione ai baluardi
1.07. Otello Act I. Abbasso le spade!
1.08. Otello Act I. Già nella notte densa…
1.09. Otello Act II. Non ti crucciar
1.10. Otello Act II. Credo in un Dio crudel, Iago’s Credo
1.11. Otello Act II. Eccola… Cassio
1.12. Otello Act II. Dove guardi splendono raggi…
1.13. Otello Act II. D’un uom che geme…
1.14. Otello Act II. Desdemona rea!
1.15. Otello Act II. Era la notte…
1.16. Otello Act II. Sì, pel ciel marmoreo guiro!
2.01. Otello Act III. La vedetta del porto ha segnalato…
2.02. Otello Act III. Dio ti giocondi, o sposo…
2.03. Otello Act III. Dio! Mi potevi scagliar tutti i mali…
2.04. Otello Act III. Vieni, l’aula è deserta
2.05. Otello Act III. Questa è una ragna
2.06. Otello Act III. Viva! Evviva!
2.07. Otello Act III. A terra!… sì… ne livido fango
2.08. Otello Act IV. Era più calmo
2.09. Otello Act IV. Piangea cantando
2.10. Otello Act IV. Ave Maria
2.11. Otello Act IV. Chi è là
2.12. Otello Act IV. Aprite! Aprite!
2.13. Otello Act IV. Niun mi tema

Released in 2013 in celebration of Giuseppe Verdi’s bicentennial, this recording of his late opera Otello is taken from three concert performances by Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, recorded on April 7, 9, and 12, 2011. This is Muti’s second release on the CSO Resound label, following his critically acclaimed recording of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem in 2010, and his position with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is evidently secure, if the polished results of these ambitious performances are any indication. Featuring Aleksandrs Antonenko as a commanding Otello, Krassimira Stoyanova as a passionate Desdemona, and Carlo Guelfi as the scheming Iago, the international cast has remarkable confidence and presence, offering credible interpretations in this unstaged presentation. Add to this the overwhelming power of the large chorus and the vividness of the orchestra’s playing, and this performance of Otello easily ranks with the finest of past recordings, though it is assured a special place among audiophiles. Released in standard CD and hybrid SACD formats, the sound is extraordinarily clear and powerful, with deep dimensions and dynamics that are utterly realistic and even shocking at times.