MEDIATHEK

Othello is the second episode of the trilogy Opera Serie: a series of three musical performances created from freely re-adapted, and celebrated opera libretto texts (Orpheus-Othello-Salomé). For each of the three episodes the musical composition is completely original.

Always following the principal of three episodes, the performance is thought out for a performer and a musician. For Othello, the musician is hidden behind curtains and only the performer is visible to the public. The choice to avoid a standard frontal relationship with the public (public sitting on risers, and actors on stage) became evident little by little during the creation process. So for each episode the spatial concept, and the public and actors whereabouts are questioned.

Here, the whole evolution of the piece takes place on a tiny stage measuring one meter by two, as if from the beginning Othello was imprisoned, confined to his emotions, his complexes, his origins.
It is constructed like a living painting, with the help of video projections, which evolve in a very slow and progressive manner. Othello will traverse all the sensations described by Shakespeare: his great love for Desdemona, his doubts and his hardships, his despair and then murder and suicide. He will do this with spoken/sung text, producing sounds with his mouth, his body his attitude, and his expressions.

The musical composition, partly electronic partly acoustic accentuates Othello's emotions, starting very softly and developing to a very strong climax which accompanies the manipulation of Iago and the murder of Desdemona. Othello's suicide, however, will be symbolized by a change in skin colour.