`Otello,' Rossini's Not Verdi's, Staged in Philadelphia

This image released by Opera Philadelphia shows, from left, tenor Toffer Mihalka, tenor Lawrence Brownlee and bass-baritone Christian Pursell during a performance of "Otello." (Steven Pisano/Opera Philadelphia via AP)

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By Associated Press

September 26, 2022 at 2:55 PM UTC

Philadelphia (AP) -- Rossini’s “Otello” premiered in 1816, and the musical adaptation of Shakespeare's famous play was a hit for seven decades. Then Verdi’s version debuted in 1887 and was acclaimed as a pinnacle of the art form, causing Rossini’s version to recede into a rarity.

Opera Philadelphia excavated it Friday night at the Academy of Music for its O22 festival in a showcase for tenor Lawrence Brownlee, the company’s artistic adviser.