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Time:
The late 1400s.
Place:
A coastal city on the island of Cyprus .
ACT
I
As
a tempest rages in the harbor
of Cyprus
, citizens await the return of
their governor, Otello, a Moorish general in the Venetian
army. When his ship is sighted, the Cypriots call on
heaven to spare it.
Safely
in port, Otello proclaims victory over the Turks ("
Esultate! "). Otello
then enters his castle. His ensign, Iago, angered because
a rival, Cassio, has been promoted to captain, plots
his own advancement by fanning the secret desires of
Roderigo, a Venetian dandy, for Otello's wife, Desdemona.
Meanwhile,
the Cypriots gather around a bonfire. Iago, leading
a drinking song ( brindisi
: "Inaffia
l'ugola ,") forces the easily
intoxicated Cassio to drink a toast to Otello and his
bride; the ensign next provokes Roderigo to duel with
the reeling Cassio.
Otello,
awakened by the brawl, storms out to demand an explanation;
Iago pretends ignorance. As Desdemona joins her husband,
he demotes Cassio, instructing Iago to restore order.
Otello and Desdemona, left alone, tenderly recall their
courtship (" Gi... nella notte
densa ") and kiss three times before re-entering
the castle.
ACT
II
By
the castle garden, Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona's
aid in regaining Otello's favor. Cassio goes off, leaving
Iago to describe his view of his creator, a cruel demon
who gives him ideas for evil machinations (" Credo
.")
On
Otello's arrival, the ensign makes innuendos about Desdemona's
fidelity as they see her in the garden with Emilia (Iago's
wife) and Cassio; yet he warns the Moor to beware of
jealousy. Women, children and sailors bring flowers
to Desdemona, whose beauty softens Otello's suspicions,
but when she approaches him about Cassio's reinstatement,
he grows irritable. Fearing he is ill, she tries to
soothe his brow with a handkerchief, which he throws
to the ground. Desdemona, confused, pleads her devotion,
while Iago furtively wrenches the handkerchief from
Emilia, who has retrieved it.
When
the women leave, Otello accuses his ensign of destroying
his peace of mind. Iago answers the Moor's demand for
proof by pretending he has heard Cassio murmur Desdemona's
name in his sleep ("Era la notte"); worse
he says he saw in Cassio's hand the strawberry-embroidered
handkerchief Otello gave her when he first courted her.
Seconded by Iago, Otello vows vengeance ("Si, pel
ciel.")
ACT
III
In
the armory, Iago tells Otello that more proof is forthcoming
and then departs as Desdemona greets her husband ( "Dio
ti giocondi .") The Moor hints at his suspicions
but she fails to understand. When he demands the handkerchief
he once gave her, she again pleads for Cassio, driving
Otello to call her a courtesan. Tearfully, Desdemona
swears her innocence; the Moor sends her away.
Spent
with rage, Otello wishes heaven had taxed him with any
affliction but this (" Dio!
mi potevi scagliar ,") then hides at the
approach of Cassio and Iago. The ensign, flashing the
handkerchief, manipulates Cassio's banter about his
mistress, Bianca, so that Otello thinks they are joking
about Desdemona. Cassio leaves as trumpets announce
dignitaries from Venice .
Otello swears to kill his wife.
In
the great hall, the court enters to welcome Lodovico,
the ambassador, who presents papers recalling Otello
to Venice
and naming Cassio governor. Otello loses self-control
and hurls Desdemona to the floor. She begs forgiveness
for her supposed crime. The courtiers try to console
her, but Otello orders them out. As the Moor falls unconscious
in a fit, Iago ironically salutes him as the "Lion
of Venice."
ACT
IV
In
her room, as Emilia helps her prepare for bed, Desdemona
sings a song about a maid, Barbara, who was forsaken
by her lover (willow song: " Salce!
Salce! ") Startled by the wind she bids
her companion goodnight, says her prayers (" Ave
Maria ") and retires. Otello steals in and
tenderly kisses Desdemona. When she awakens, he tells
her to prepare for death; though she protests her innocence,
he strangles her.
Emilia
knocks with news that Cassio has slain Roderigo. Hearing
Desdemona's death moan, she cries for help, bringing
Iago, Lodovico and Cassio. When Emilia tells of Iago's
treachery, he stabs his wife and rushes from the room.
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