The opera Otello, a production by the prestigious Salzburg Easter Festival, arrives in Córdoba next Thursday, August 6th, at the El Tablero cinemas. This screening, which will also be shown in over 50 cinemas across Spain, is part of the óh!pera Summer cultural initiative, bringing together essential lyrical works filmed in impressive open-air settings.
Under the musical direction of maestro Christian Thielemann and performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden, Verdi's score oscillates between volcanic violence and chamber delicacy. The staging by director Vincent Boussard integrates video, lighting, and scenography to create an almost abstract environment, while the spectacular costumes designed by fashion icon Christian Lacroix add a sophisticated elegance that contrasts with the libretto's emotional brutality.
The international cast features Argentine tenor José Cura as Otello, German soprano Dorothea Röschmann as Desdemona, and the Malagueño baritone Carlos Álvarez, who delivers a "masterclass in villainy" as Iago, with a powerful voice and a stage presence exuding chilling, perfect manipulation.
The opera recounts the tragedy of General Otello, who, driven by ambition and resentment sown by his ensign Iago, becomes consumed by suspicion that his wife is unfaithful. Overwhelmed by jealousy and distrust, Otello destroys the woman he loves, only to discover too late that he has been a victim of cruel manipulation, leading to a tragic end marked by guilt and despair.
This 147-minute performance of Otello, sung in Italian, is part of the fourth edition of the óh!pera Summer festival. The distributor Versión Digital makes opera from major international festivals more accessible and spectacular for cinema audiences through multi-camera filming. The previous edition attracted 15,600 spectators.
Following Otello, the festival will present Andrea Chénier on August 20th, Carmen on September 3rd, and Nabucco on September 17th.
