Verdi: Otello / O'neill, Finley, Lso

Sir Colin Davis, Simon O'Neill, Gerald Finley, Anne Schwanewilms, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra

G. Verdi:Otello

Gramophone Awards Finalist 2011 - Opera Recording
Gramophone Editor's Choice - November 2010
Sir Colin Davis's eagerly anticipated recording of Verdi's Otello is released on the 10th anniversary of the LSO Live label. Opera has always formed an important part of the label's output - recording concert performances of opera allows listeners to enjoy the drama of a live performance without the problems associated with recording in a theatre.
Among Sir Colin's greatest triumphs on LSO Live have been his award-winning recordings of Berlioz's operas plus Peter Grimes, Fidelio and Verdi's final opera, Falstaff. Falstaff was released in 2004 and collected the Grammy Award for Best Opera.
Sir Colin is joined in the title role of Otello by one of the world's most exciting young tenors. New Zealander Simon O'Neill stepped in at short notice to the concerts, making his debut in the role (although he had studied it with Domingo), delivering what can only be described as an astonishing performance. The villainous Iago is played by Gerald Finley and Otello's wife Desdemona by Anne Schwanewilms.
Verdi had retired from opera following the premiere of Aida in 1871 but was eventually persuaded by his publisher to work with the librettist Arrigo Boito. As with Falstaff, Verdi's final opera on which they would subsequently collaborate, they turned to Shakespeare for inspiration. Otello, which was premiered in 1887, marked a significant evolutionary development in Italian opera and is widely regarded as one of the great operatic masterpieces.

Concert reviews

'an electrifying account ... Simon O'Neill made a tremendous debut in the title-role, giving notice that he is the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade' Daily Telegraph (UK)
'a performance of Verdi's opera that had finesse, fervour and glorious lyricism ... Such is Davis's rapport with the LSO and its rapant Chorus that he can unleash greater musical power with an elegant flick of the baton than most conductors muster with flailing arms. Gerald Finley was a superb Iago: insiduously sinister, yet sustaining a wonderfully suave line. And the New Zealand tenor Simon O'Neill gave an immense performance ... he will make the Moor his own' The Times (UK)
'a thrilling performance from beginning to end ... an evening to treasure; not just for Davis's contribution, but for an impressive debut from the young New Zealand tenor Simon O'Neill. O'Neill mastered Otello's many moods with a striking musicality and an eveness of tone throughout the range. He will go far, and promises to be the outstanding Wagner Heldentenor we have been longing far ... the men, led by Gerald Finley's totally convincing and committed Iago, were splendid' Mail on Sunday (UK)

Price: $31.98