Verdi: Otello

On a June night in 2017, opera lovers thronged to the Royal Opera House in London to hear tenor Jonas Kaufmann, recently acclaimed by The Daily Telegraph as the world's greatest tenor, make his eagerly anticipated debut in the title role of Otello Verdi's greatest and most demanding role for tenor voice. As the New York Times wrote Mr. Kaufmann made his debut in the part, and he calmly, confidently sang it for the ages. Sony Classical is pleased to release his landmark performance on DVD and Blu-ray. Joining Jonas Kaufmann on stage were Italian baritone, Marco Vratogna as Iago, who, as the Metro newspaper noted sings up a thrilling storm of hatred and malevolence and Italian soprano, Maria Agresta who sang with a tender yet creamy intensity (The Observer) in her deeply sensitive performance of Otello's tragic Desdemona. The entire production was led by lauded conductor Antonio Pappano. Kaufmann s eagerly anticipated debut matched the high expectations of the audience and critics alike and will surely stand the test of time, his Otello being, as the City Am newspaper noted: the great Otello for this generation of opera lovers.