Otello - Pafos Aphrodite Festival

With the popular opera Otello by Giuseppe Verdi which is related to the history of Cyprus since the plot takes place at the Castle of Famagusta, Pafos Aphrodite Festival opens its curtain. Because of the symbolic connection of this opera with our occupied city but also because of the internationally acclaimed reputation of Pafos Aphrodite Festival, this year’s Festival has been included in the festivities for the Cypriot Presidency of the European Union, a fact which adds to the prestige and recognition of the Festival.

Otello will be produced by the Opera of the Slovak National Theatre and the performances are going to take place on 7th, 8th and 9th September 2012 at the Medieval Castle in Pafos.

The lyric masterpiece of Giuseppe Verdi Otello consists of four acts and the libretto was written by Arrigo Boito. It was Verdi’s penultimate opera, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, on February 5, 1887.This tragic opera is based on William Shakespeare’s play Othello.

For reservations and additional information please contact the offices of the Pafos Aphrodite Festival Cyprus Company in Pafos at 26822218, the all-Cyprus toll free number 8000 8005 or visit the company’s website www.pafc.com.cy . Ticket prices are as following: €35, €50, €60 και €80.

There will be a simultaneous translation in Greek and English via subtitles.

Otello: The plot

Famagusta – Cyprus, 15th Century

At the coast of the island of Cyprus the people are concerned about the boat bringing back the Moor Othello, their general who returns victorious from the war. Othello arrives safe and sound through the cheering and celebrations of the people and goes to the Castle. However, two of Othello’s men are not in the mood for celebrations. Rodrigo, who is in love with Othello’s wife, Desdemona and Iago whom Othello had degraded from the position of Captain which was given to Casio instead. Iago in accordance with Rodrigo plots to avenge and destroy Othello. He gets Casio drunk who then gets involved in a fight and ends up wounding Montano, the former governor of Cyprus. Arriving at the scene Othello angrily demotes Casio. Iago cunningly encourages Casio to ask Desdemona to talk to Othello about his demotion, because Desdemona can influence her husband to reinstate him. When Othello sees his wife talking to Casio, Iago insinuates that they are flirting. When later Desdemona talks to Othello about Casio Othello becomes even more suspicious of her and so when she tries to wipe his face with her favorite handkerchief Othello takes it and angrily throws it to the ground. Emilia, the maid of Desdemona, picks up the handkerchief but Iago forcibly takes it away from her and puts it in Casio’s room so that he has proof that Desdemona gave Casio her handkerchief as token of her love for him. Furious about his wife’s alleged infidelity Othello swears to kill her. In the mean time an official party has come from Venice to honor Othello and they are all surprised to see that during this official ceremony Othello treats his wife with cruelty and insolence. At the same night Othello enters Desdemona’s room and accuses her of cheating on him with Casio. Her persistent denial makes him even more furious and hence he strangles her. Upon hearing her cries everybody enters the room. Emilia announces that Casio has killed Rodrigo while Montano announces that just before he died Rodrigo revealed everything about Iago’s evil plan and that Desdemona has never been unfaithful to Othello. Othello realizing the tragic error he has committed draws a dagger from his robe and stabs himself.