Otello
Margary Goodwin I have seen a few operas and many musicals. I expected to see an elaborate set and costuming. The Met set the entire opera around glass rectangles that moved throughout the performance. The costumes for the chorus remained dull and gray, which works for the sadness of this opera, but there were parts that I felt the costumes should have been colorful. The costumes for the main characters flowed beautifully with the music and story. The costume designer’s use of colors, including Iago’s black clothes, Desmonda’s red and white dresses and Emilia’s blue dress, matches the characters persona and plight as the opera comes to its climax and finale. Throughout the opera, most of the performers were influential in making me believe the actions and feelings were real. Sonya Yonchove’s face showed and her voice spoke the torment and …show more content…
The clear prisms movement on the stage allowed the actors to see what was happening through the walls of the castle and made it easier for the audience to view the actor’s reactions to the ensuing story. Desmonda’s cries of innocence against Otello’s screams of infidelity build the story up and Iago brings the finishing touches when he uses Cassio to bring forth the “proof” of adultery with the handkerchief. The use of a red dress on Desmonda when Otello is accusing her of infidelity made me think of the “Scarlet Letter,” and that she was guilty until proven innocent. The music continues to build throughout this part until the act’s finale with entire group performing and high notes are flying throughout all parts including Otello and Desmonda and an added piccolo in the orchestra. The music begins to slow and quiet as act III ends and Otello collapses on stage and Iago walks away. The entire climax kept me at the edge of my seat following every move of the