The World of Opera

ACT I

A public square in Venice

The Doge of Venice and all the senators, including a nobleman Elmiro, are waiting for the return of the Venetian fleet, commanded by the North African general, Otello.  Under Otello’s command, the Venetian forces have just driven the Turks out of Cyprus, restoring the eastern Mediterranean to Venetian rule.  Through the arches at the back of the square can be seen the quayside, thronged with people – ships can be seen approaching, and Otello is proclaimed as a public hero.

Otello disembarks and, followed by his two lieutenants, Iago and Rodrigo (the Doge’s son), approaches the Doge.  He announces that Cyprus has been liberated and secured against further invasion.  His mission is complete, and he lays at the Doge’s feet his own sword and the captured arms and war-flags of the defeated Turkish. forces  The Doge asks how the city can reward his bravery and Otello replies that all he wants is that Venice should accept him, a Moor, a son of Africa, as its own.  Iago mutters that this is too presumptuous, and Rodrigo replies that Otello’s request is fatal to his, Rodrigo’s, own ambitions.  The Doge, however, responds by returning Otello’s unconquered sword, crowning him with the laurel wreath of victory, and confirming that Otello is indeed a son of Venice.  Iago and Rodrigo again mutter their disapproval to one another.
 

Otello wonders whether he, an outsider with a different appearance and different customs, can really be accepted, and the Doge tells him that Venice respects heroism without condition.  Otello is grateful, and comments to himself that his real happiness will come when love crowns his achievement.  Rodrigo overhears this and is incandescent with rage, so much so that Iago has to restrain him, whispering that they must not reveal their plans of revenge against Otello.  As the senators and the people leave to celebrate a public triumph ceremony, Otello again talks of love bringing him hope of happiness.
 

Iago moves aside and Elmiro approaches Rodrigo.  It now becomes clear that Elmiro has a daughter, Desdemona.  Rodrigo is in love with her, and asks how she is.  Elmiro replies that she has been weeping and sighing all the time that the fleet has been away.  He leaves to join in the celebrations and Iago emerges from the shadows.  Rodrigo asks him whether Elmiro is so taken with the Moor’s success that he will sacrifice his only daughter to an unworthy marriage, and Iago replies that Rodrigo should learn to trust him, because he has the means of destroying Otello.  He shows Rodrigo a letter, saying that they must maintain silence but act quickly. In a duet, they gloat over their alliance and their plan to bring Otello down.
 

The scene changes to Elmiro’s palace

Desdemona is with her maid Emilia.  Emilia tells her that now that Otello has returned victorious, Desdemona should be happy again, but Desdemona replies that her earlier anxiety was for Otello’s safety, but that now she is concerned that her father’s hatred of Otello might destroy their happiness.  When Otello had left Venice to lead the campaign, Desdemona had sent him a letter containing a lock of her hair, but the letter never reached him – it was intercepted by Elmiro, who read it and assumed that it was intended for Rodrigo.  She has received no letters from Otello since then and is terrified that he no longer loves her.  Emilia reassures her that lovers often imagine non-existent disasters.  Iago approaches and Desdemona and Emilia leave quickly – they do not trust him and Desdemona does not want him to see any anxiety in her face.
 

Iago sees them leave and comments that although he once courted Desdemona he has lost all feeling for her, and since she rejected him for ‘a vile African’, he intends to make her regret it.  Elmiro arrives with Rodgrigo, and he tells Rodrigo that he proposes to give him Desdemona’s hand in marriage.  He explains that together they can overturn Otello, and urges Rodrigo to persuade the Doge, his father, that Otello has ambitions that are not in Venice’s interests.  Elmiro then tells Desdemona that he has arranged something to please her.  Full of foreboding, Desdemona asks Emilia what the surprise can be: Emilia wonders whether Elmiro has at last come to like Otello.
 

A group of servants and Elmiro’s friends sing a chorus in praise of marriage, and when Desdemona sees her father with Rodrigo she realises what he has arranged.  In a horrified aside, Desdemona reveals that she already has a husband, but no-one hears her.  Elmiro is surprised at her reaction to Rodrigo, and Rodrigo pushes her for a response.  To add to her confusion, Otello enters, and is horrified to see Desdemona apparently yielding to Elmiro’s pressure and Rodrigo’s passion.  His men try to restrain him, but he interrupts and tells them that she has already committed herself; she is married to him.  When Desdemona admits that this is true, Elmiro curses her and drags her out.  Rodrigo shouts threats at Otello.