Verdi's "Otello" in Dmitry Bertman's production

28.02.2011

Verdi's "Otello" in Dmitry Bertman's production

On the 26th of February the premiere of "Otello" by G. Verdi in Dmitry Bertman's production took place on stage of The Norrland's Opera in Swedish city of Umeo. Dmitry Bertman is an Artistic Director of Moscow's Helikon-Opera.

Dmitry Bertman has been working in Sweden for a long time. He has already staged three performances on stage of Swedish Royal opera, including "Andrea Chenier" by U. Giordano.

The Norrland's Opera was established in 1974 and is the main cultural centre of Norrland, which unites under this name the third part of the whole Sweden. Although to Russian musicians this place is famous according to "Ole from Norrland" opera by M. Ippolitov-Ivanov.

Verdi's "Otello" in The Norrland's Opera was created by the international team. Stage director - Dmitry Bertman, conductor is a nowadays musical director of The Norrland's Opera, a British conductor Rumon Gamba, known for his interest to new opera and contemporary readings of classics. Otello is a tenor Ronald Samm, who was born in Trinidad and was educated in Engand, who performs this part all over the world. Desdemona is Maria Fontosh, a famous Swedish soprano, who was born in Ukraine and got her musical education in Sweden. Jago is a Swedish baritone Kosma Ranuer. The other parts are performed by Anders Hakansson, Ulrik Qvale, Hedvig Hasselstrom, Lars Martinsson, Hans Erik Sundstrom. Set and costume designer - Astrid Janson, Light designer - Maria Ros Palmklint. Choreographer - Edwald Smirnov.  

This is what Dmitry Bertman says about the opera. "We approach this opera from the positions of XXIst century. Our conception is that there is no more private, personal life, especially when you are a celebrity. The history of Otello is full of secrets, eavesdropping, spying, initiated by the manic Jago. The mysterious atmosphere is created in this tragedy, as in thriller, step by step. Why Desdemona went against the will of her father and followed the man, whom she slightly knew? Why Otello was so quickly trapped by Jago? Why Jago, getting the desired position, tried to kill not only Cassio, but also Otello and Desdemona?

Every character has his own secret passion or weakness, who threatens him a scandalous disclosure, as they all are in public eye. And the more carefully they are trying to hid the secrets, the more disastrous are the consequences."

Photo by Malin Arnesson from The Norrland's Opera website 
http://norrlandsoperan.webb212.it-norr.com/default.asp?refid=10099&id=12367