The opera is set in Cyprus in the 15th century. Otello, the new governor, steers his ship through a storm on his way to the island with his victorious troops, who have routed the Turks. His ensign Iago is intensely jealous of Otello and his platoon leader Cassio, who Iago feels has unjustly overtaken him in rank. Engineering a brawl, Iago gets his friend Roderigo to sound the alarm, after which Otello, roused from his bed, finds Cassio guilty of starting the fracas – just as Iago intended – and dismisses him from service, promoting his "honest" Iago as ensign. Desdemona now appears. She and Otello, alone at last, sing of their love.
Iago plants further seeds of doubt in Otello's mind by telling him to watch Desdemona's behaviour with Cassio. When she then intercedes on Cassio's behalf Otello responds angrily and throws down the handkerchief she offers him. Iago later snatches this from Emilia, Desdemona's nurse. He also offers, as "proof" of Desdemona's infidelity, words he says he heard Cassio utter in his sleep, in which he had been making love to Otello's wife. Angrily convinced that his dreams of love and glory are over, Otello swears to exact vengeance.
To her confusion and distress, Otello now accuses Desdemona of infidelity and brutally pushes her from his sight. Iago then engineers a way to make Cassio talk of Desdemona within earshot of Otello. Although they are actually discussing Cassio's mistress Bianca Otello does not catch her name and, as Iago intended, believes that their ribald conversation concerns his wife. Cassio then produces Desdemona's handkerchief, which Iago had planted in Cassio's room the day before. Otello now needs no further proof. As Venetian ambassadors are announced, Otello and Iago plot the murder of Desdemona and Cassio. During his audience with the ambassadors Otello behaves violently and incoherently, before dismissing everybody. Overcome with emotion, he faints as voices, off-stage, proclaim him the Lion of Venice. His heel planted on Otello's prostrate form, Iago cries derisively: "Here is the lion."
That evening, Desdemona prepares for bed. As she lies down to sleep Otello enters and soon Desdemona realises that he has come to kill her. Her protestations of innocence are in vain and he smothers her (crying "It is too late!") just as Emilia hammers on the door, announcing that Cassio has killed Roderigo. On seeing the dying Desdemona, Emilia raises the alarm and soldiers rush in, as do Lodovico (an ambassador), Cassio and Iago. As Iago's plot in unravelled, Otello realises his tragic error, bids farewell to his comrades and to Desdemona, and stabs himself. In the opera's last moments he drags himself towards Desdemona's body.
From leading dance and Broadway musicals to grand opera productions the State Theatre offers the complete theatrical experience.
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