OTELLO – VERDI
Presented on Jun 4, 6, 10, 12 at the Gaiety Theatre Dublin as part of the Dublin Grand Opera Society’s Spring Season
Pier Miranda Ferraro – Otello
Virginia Zeani – Desdemona
Cesare Bardelli – Iago
Brendan Cavanagh – Cassio
Patrick Ring – Roderigo
Loris Gambelli – Lodovico
Ernesto Vezzosi – Montano
Anna di Stasio – Emilia
Alberto Oro – Herald
Tibor Paul – Conductor
Enrico Frigerio – Producer
Listen to this production here:
Only Acts 1 and 2 have been preserved; the rest of the broadcast is missing.
The revival of “Otello” after five years was more successful and according to chorister Paddy Brennan, was well cast and both vocally and dramatically contained some outstanding moments. The title role was sung by Italian tenor Pier Miranda Ferraro who had studied with Aureliano Pertile and in 1959 had recorded “La Gioconda” with Callas and Piero Cappuccilli. He made a big impression on Irish opera fans with the heroic quality of his voice and convincing acting. Virginia Zeani was back to sing the role of Desdemona which she had sung in leading opera houses abroad. Her Lucia and Violetta were still vividly remembered at the Gaiety and her Desdemona was on this occasion convincingly sung and acted; indeed she was in luminous voice, especially in the tragic last act. While in Dublin she told me she renewed acquaintances with all her friends, notably Alfred and Lady Beit, Prince Caracciolo and his wife ‘Boodie’ and numerous other friends. As always, she marvelled at the verdant green of the land, the friendly Irish, and the remarkable DGOS chorus. ‘I was always delighted to come back to Ireland when I could,’ she said. ‘I suppose it was more relaxing for me than slipping in and out of big cities and opera houses. I could sing and relax in Dublin and enjoy myself more. Nothing had changed since I was here in the fifties, least of all your lovely audience.’
(Extracted from “Love and Music: The Glorious History of the Dublin Grand Opera Society” by Gus Smith, 1998)
Opera in Ireland 