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TH 213

Othello

Отелло

Projected opera in four acts (1876–77).

• An unrealised project dating from November 1876–February 1877.
• Scenario by Vladimir Stasov, after William Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name.

History

Shakespeare’s Othello was suggested to Tchaikovsky as a possible opera subject in November or December 1876 by Vladimir Stasov, who offered to prepare a detailed libretto. On 11/23 December 1876, Tchaikovsky replied with enthusiasm: "I not only ask, but demand that you fulfil your promise. Now the seed of Shakespeare’s tragedy has taken root in ground of my musical imagination, how could I not write Othello?" [1].

Stasov immediately drafted a scenario for the opera, to which Tchaikovsky suggested a number of changes [2].. Due to other commitments, Stasov was unable to start work on the libretto right away. On 9/21 February 1877, Tchaikovsky wrote to him: "It is essential for me to receive the scenario you have compiled for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th acts. Only in the first act can I manage without your gracious assistance. The sooner I receive these three acts, the better. But this does not mean that I would wish you to abandon all your work and turn your attention to Othello. Do it whenever you please and how you please, but without receiving your scenario for the last three acts I cannot manage, and so I await them patiently, but eagerly" [3].

However, nothing more was heard of this project, and within two months Stasov had suggested a completely different opera subject—The Cardinal (after a story by Alfred de Vigny), which the composer rejected outright [4].

From: The Tchaikovsky Handbook, vol. 1 (2002), p. 400
Copyright © 2002 Alexander Poznansky and Brett Langston

References:

1. Letter 520 to Vladimir Stasov, 11/23 December 1876 [back]
2. Letter 525 to Vladimir Stasov, 19/31 December 1876 [back]
3. Letter 541 to Vladimir Stasov, 9/21 February 1877 [back]
4. Letter 548 to Vladimir Stasov, 8/20 April 1877 [back]