Verdi: Otello
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Movie Reviews of Verdi: Otello
Movie Review: Very good, with minor flaws
Summary: 4 Stars
This film version of Verdi's Othello -- directed and conducted by Herbert Von Karajan, a man of many talents -- is excellent in many respects, and more than adequate in most. The occasional variation in decibel level is perhaps the only flaw. Buckets of water (intended to serve as the spray of breakers) aside, the 'special affects' are pretty good. The film is nicely filmed; there were times I was convinced they'd found some Maltese castle, but apparently it was done in a Berlin studio. The camera moves subtly and slowly, with none of the frenetic movement (let alone car chases, etc.) that would probably characterize a film version today.
Desdemona would ideally be played by a younger woman than Mirella Freni, but her voice is fine, and her acting gives us a convincing Desdemona (loving and innocent). Peter Glossop is a very good, and sufficiently scary, Jago. He conveys well the moral elusiveness of the part, as well as the earnestness that compels Otello to trust him. Jon Vickers' gravity-defying hair is reminiscent of 1970s televangelists, but his voice is superb and his acting is good. He has a phenomenal presence; the nonchalance of Otello, which is importantly suggestive of his inner strength and confidence, is conveyed ever so well. That said (according to the accompanying description of the performance), Vickers deliberately stammers a line early on in the love duet to foreshadow an element of anxiety/fear. But overall to see him next to Jago is to see a lion next to a jackal. And yet the smooth 'jackal' wins, and the powerful, passionate 'lion' loses.... It is quite moving.
The Times (of London) described this as 'one of the best filmed operas ever made'. Perhaps this was true when it was first made (1974). Still, it has stood the test of time.
Movie Review: the great 20th century Otello
Summary: 4 Stars
The omission of James McCracken fom your list of great 20th century Otello"s completely detroys your wordy article and your claim to know(seemingly) what is good and what is great.Vickers may have been great but Domingo was woefully limited...through no fault of his own,-he just didn't have the voice.MaCracken was magnificent.
Movie Review: Wonderful performance - frustrating audio
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this performance in its laser disc format a number of years ago and got rid of it because the audio portion is made of extremes. If I raise the volume to hear the quiet portions, I'm blasted out of the room when the music gets louder. There's no happy medium. I don't know if this is Von Karajan's doing or the fault of the sound engineers. I thought that the DVD would be better in this respect, but it's not. So if you're interested in this version, be aware of this (for me) shortcoming. I can listen to it either through earphones (risking my hearing) or when my neighbors aren't at home.