Verdi's Otello conducted by Tullio Serafin

Verdi's Otello conducted by Tullio Serafin

Though more than 50 years old, this remains the finest recording of Otello, with Jon Vickers at his greatest, Gobbi a subtle and sinister Iago, and Rysanek a Desdemona with personality.

Michael Tanner

Our rating

5

Michael Tanner

Published: March 14, 2017 at 11:18 am

COMPOSERS: Verdi
LABELS: Sony
ALBUM TITLE: Verdi
WORKS: Otello
PERFORMER: Vickers, Rysanek, Gobbi, Andreolli, Carlin, Mazzoli, Calabrese, Kerns, Pirazzini; Rome Opera Orchestra & Chorus/Tullio Serafin
CATALOGUE NO: 88875196362 (1961)




Though more than 50 years old, this remains the finest recording of Otello, with Jon Vickers at his greatest, Gobbi a subtle and sinister Iago, and Rysanek a Desdemona with personality.

Michael Tanner

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Michael Tanner

Journalist and Critic, BBC Music Magazine

Michael Tanner is a critic for BBC Music Magazine and the opera critic of The Spectator. He is now a fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, having lectured in the Philosophy faculty at the University of Cambridge for 36 years. In 2010, he released The Faber Pocket Guide to Wagner.
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