Otello Was Franco Zeffirelli’s Fourth Met Opera Production

Summary: Verdi’s Otello was Franco Zeffirelli’s fourth Met Opera production, which debuted March 25, 1972, and numbered as his third Shakespearean opera.

Franco Zeffirelli designed the sets for Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello as the Italian designer, director and producer’s fourth Met Opera production, which debuted March 25, 1972: Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli, via Facebook March 25, 2019

Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello was Franco Zeffirelli’s fourth Met Opera production, which debuted March 25, 1972, and numbered as the Italian production designer and director’s third Shakespearean opera at the opera house.

The Metropolitan Opera debuted Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of Otello on Saturday, March 25, 1972, in the opera house’s 184th performance of the second Shakespearean opera by 19th-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901). The new staging received 17 performances in the 1971-1972 Met Opera season.

Involvement by Franco Zeffirelli (Feb. 12, 1923-June 15, 2019) in Verdi’s Otello marked his third production of a Shakespearean opera at the Metropolitan Opera. He had made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the 1963-1964 season with his new staging of Verdi’s Falstaff. His second Met Opera production was 20th-century American composer Samuel Barber’s (March 9, 1910-Jan. 23, 1981) operatic adaptation of the Elizabethan playwright’s Antony and Cleopatra..

Zeffirelli designed the sets for his new staging of Otello. He debuted British-born American costumer Peter John Hall (Jan. 22, 1926-May 27, 2010) as the production’s costume designer.

Karl Böhm (Aug. 28, 1894-Aug. 14, 1981) conducted the new production’s season premiere and six succeeding performances at the Metropolitan Opera. The Austrian conductor had made his Met Opera debut Oct. 31, 1957, in the opera company’s 185th performance of Don Giovanni by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Francesco Molinari-Pradell (July 4, 1911-July 8, 1996) conducted the season’s last 10 performances, which were offered during the opera company’s 1971-1972 tour. The Italian opera conductor had made his Met Opera debut Feb. 7, 1966, in the opera company’s 92nd performance of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.

American operatic tenor James McCracken’s Otello sang opposite Polish operatic soprano Teresa Żylis-Gara’s Desdemona for the season’s premiere. James McCracken (Dec. 16, 1926-April 29, 1988) had made his Metropolitan Opera debut Nov. 21, 1953, as Parpignol in the opera company’s 489th performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). Teresa Żylis-Gara (born 23 January 1935) had made her Metropolitan Opera debut Dec. 17, 1968, as Donna Elvira in the opera house’s 275th performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

American dramatic baritone Sherrill Milnes appeared as Otello’s nemesis, Iago. Sherrill Miles (born Jan. 10, 1935) had made his Metropolitan Opera debut Dec. 22, 1965, as Valentin in the opera company’s 594th performance of Faust by 19th century French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

The Metropolitan Opera staged eight revivals of Zeffirelli’s production of Otello. The first two revivals, in 1972-1973 and 1973-1974, succeeded the production’s debut season. The third through fifth revivals occurred successively in the 1977-1978, 1978-1979 and 1979-1980 seasons. The sixth revival took place in the 1984-1985 season. Two seasons later, in 1987-1988, the Metropolitan Opera staged the production’s seventh revival.

The eighth and final revival occurred during the 1989-1990 season. The final performance took place March 19, 1990. Closing night numbered as the opera house’s 267th performance of Otello and as the 84th performance of Zeffirelli’s production. From debut to final performance, Zeffirelli’s production remained in Met Opera’s active repertory for 17 years 11 and two-thirds months.

Four years passed before the Metropolitan Opera launched a new production of Otello. Elijah Moshinsky’s new staging debuted March 21, 1994, in the opera house’s 268th performance of the opera. The Australian opera director’s production received nine performances in the 1993-1994 season. Six revivals were staged intermittently in the 1999-2000, 2002-2003, 2004-2005, 2007-2008 and 2012-2013 seasons.

The final performance of Moshinsky’s production happened March 30, 2013. From debut to final performance, his production figured in Met Opera’s active repertoire for 19 years and claimed a total of 58 performances.

The Metropolitan Opera’s current staging of Otello debuted Sept. 21, 2015, in the opera house’s 326th performance of the opera. American theater director Bartlett Sher’s new production received 13 performances in the 2015-2016 season. The first revival of Sher’s staging occurred in the 2018-2019 season with an offering of seven performances.

The takeaways for Otello as Franco Zeffirelli’s fourth Met Opera production are that the Italian designer and director’s staging of Verdi’s second Shakespearean opera tallied 84 performances; experienced eight revivals; and remained for almost 18 years in the Metropolitan Opera’s regularly performed repertory.

Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of Verdi’s Otello debuted March 25, 1972, at the Metropolitan Opera, with sets designed by the director and costumes designed by Peter J. Hall; Sherill Milnes sang Iago to James McCracken’s Otello and Teresa Zylis-Gara’s Desdemona: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook June 22, 2019

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Franco Zeffirelli designed the sets for Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello as the Italian designer, director and producer’s fourth Met Opera production, which debuted March 25, 1972: Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli, via Facebook March 25, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/fondazionefrancozeffirelli/photos/a.521465231522293/837165633285583/

Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of Verdi’s Otello debuted March 25, 1972, at the Metropolitan Opera, with sets designed by the director and costumes designed by Peter J. Hall; Sherill Milnes sang Iago to James McCracken’s Otello and Teresa Zylis-Gara’s Desdemona: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook June 22, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162094337365533/

For further information:

“Debut: Francesco Molinari-Pradelli.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 205340 Un Ballo in Maschera {92) Metropolitan Opera House: 02/7/1966.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=205340

“Debut: Jean Fenn, James McCracken.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 164030 La Bohème {489) Metropolitan Opera House: 11/21/1953.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=164030

“Debut: Karl Böhm.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 176010 New Production Don Giovanni {185) Metropolitan Opera House: 10/31/1957.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=176010

“Debut: Peter J. Hall.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 228890 New Production Otello {184) Metropolitan Opera House: 03/25/1972.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=228890

“Debut: Teresa Zylis-Gara.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216940 Don Giovanni {275) Metropolitan Opera House: 12/17/1968.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=216940

“Debuts: Luigi Alva, Leonard Bernstein, Franco Zeffirelli.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 197440 New Production Falstaff {67} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/6/1964.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=197440

“Debuts: Montserrat Caballé, Sherrill Milnes.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 204850 Faust {594} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/22/1965.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=204850

Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli. “Otello di Giuseppe Verdi, New York, Metropolitan Opera House, 25 marzo 1972. Bozzetto definitivo, FZ. Sabato 30 marzo, percorso guidato a cura del personale del Museo alla scoperta dei bozzetti, delle foto di scena e dei costume delle produzioni di Franco Zeffirelli ➡ https://bit.ly/2Rjeqif.” Facebook. March 25, 2019.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/fondazionefrancozeffirelli/photos/a.521465231522293/837165633285583/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Andrea Velis Made Beppe Role Debut at Met Opera in Zeffirelli’s Cav Pag." Earth and Space News. Monday, July 6, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/07/andrea-velis-made-beppe-role-debut-at.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Antony and Cleopatra Was Franco Zeffirelli’s Second Met Opera Production." Earth and Space News. Monday, June 15, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/antony-and-cleopatra-was-franco.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Cav Pag Was Franco Zeffirelli’s Third Met Opera Production.” Earth and Space News. Monday, June 22, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/cav-pag-was-franco-zeffirellis-third.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Franco Zeffirelli Made His Met Opera Debut in Staging Verdi’s Falstaff." Earth and Space News. Monday, June 1, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/franco-zeffirelli-made-his-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Grace Bumbry Made Santuzza Role Debut at Met Opera in Zeffirelli’s Cav Pag." Earth and Space News. Monday, June 29, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/grace-bumbry-made-santuzza-role-debut.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Luigi Alva Made Met Opera Debut in Zeffirelli’s Falstaff Production." Earth and Space News. Monday, June 8, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/06/luigi-alva-made-met-opera-debut-in.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Only Two of 11 Zeffirelli Productions Are Still Revived at Met Opera." Earth and Space News. Monday, May 25, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/05/only-two-of-11-zeffirelli-productions.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Otello Is the Jan. 5, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/otello-is-jan-5-2019-met-opera-saturday.html

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Legendary director Franco Zeffirelli (1923–2019), who created 11 Met productions between 1964 and 1998, worked with many of opera’s greatest artists, from Leontyne Price to Leonard Bernstein to Plácido Domingo. Look back on his unparalleled career with this collection of snapshots of him at work. Photo: On the set of a new production of Verdi's Otello with Sherrill Milnes in 1972 Photo courtesy of Met Archives.” Facebook. June 22, 2019.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10162094337365533/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Otello.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 10080 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Otello {1} Chicago, Illinois: 11/23/1891.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=10080

“New Production: Otello.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: New Production Otello {184} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/25/1972.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=228890

“New Production: Otello.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351014 New Production Otello {268} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/21/1994.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351014

“New Production: Otello.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356006 New Production Otello {326} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/21/2015.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356006

“Opening Night {95}.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 259000 Otello {240} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/24/1979.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=259000

“Opening Night {103}.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 290000 Otello {255} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/21/1987.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=290000

“Opening Night {131}.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356006 New Production Otello {326} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/21/2015.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356006

Plotkin, Fred. “Remembering Franco Zeffirelli (1923-2019).” WQXR > Operavore. June 17, 2019.
Available @ https://www.wqxr.org/story/remembering-franco-zeffirelli-19232019/