Verdi meets Shakespeare in the crowning achievement of Italian opera.
He's a beloved leader, a distinguished military commander and a devoted husband. But when an envious subordinate introduces the notion—just the slightest whispered hint—that Othello's wife Desdemona might possibly be unfaithful, it's enough to send him into a downward spiral of fury and murder.
Hailed as the pinnacle of the Italian operatic repertoire, Verdi’s transformation of the original Shakespeare play is a powerful drama of uncontrolled human emotion at its most extreme. Verdi's musical portrait of Otello’s descent into a tortured heart of darkness is explicit in every chilling detail as he destroys all in life that he holds dear.
Verdi master James Conlon takes command of the truly epic musical forces. The powerhouse cast is led by Artist in Residence Russell Thomas in the title role (considered the "Mount Everest" of the dramatic tenor repertoire). Rachel Willis-Sørensen makes a highly anticipated company debut as the doomed Desdemona and Igor Golovatenko is the sadistic Iago, slyly explpoiting Otello's one fatal flaw: jealousy.
Sung in Italian with English subtitles.
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"Russell Thomas, confirming his claim on the title role, made a confident entrance with a firm, clarion 'Esultate.' He provided bel canto elegance in every lyrical passage and a genuine glow emanated from his singing in the love duet… Thomas’s refined musicality and incisive delivery of text carried the day, as did his nuanced portrayal of the hapless hero.”
Listen to Otello's dramatic Act 1 entrance ("Esultate!"), with the chorus cheering his stunning victory over an enemy fleet.
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A scene from LA Opera's 2008 production of "Otello," staged by John Cox.
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A scene from LA Opera's 2008 production of "Otello," staged by John Cox.
Robert Millard / LA OperaSwipe for More

A scene from LA Opera's 2008 production of "Otello," staged by John Cox.
Robert Millard / LA OperaSwipe for More

Russell Thomas, LA Opera's Artist in Residence, sings the title role of "Otello."
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Rachel Willis-Sørensen makes her LA Opera debut as Desdemona in "Otello."
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Igor Golovatenko sings the role of Iago in "Otello."
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Music Director James Conlon conducts "Otello."
Dan SteinbergCast
- Otello
- Russell Thomas
- Desdemona
- Rachel Willis-Sørensen
- Iago
- Igor Golovatenko
- Lodovico
- Morris Robinson
- Cassio
- Anthony Ciaramitaro
Creative Team
- Conductor
- James Conlon
- Production
- John Cox
- Scenery & Costumes
- Johan Engels

Read the synopsis
Sung in Italian with English subtitles.
The running time is approximately three hours and 15 minutes, including two intermissions.
An LA Opera co-production with Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Teatro Regio di Parma.
Single Tickets on Sale in Summer 2022
2022/23 Season Packages-
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