Maltman’s Iago the driving force in tepid Otello revival

Christopher Maltman (Iago) and Russell Thomas (Otello)

Hrachuhí Bassénz (Desdemona) and Russell Thomas (Otello)

Piotr Buszewski (Cassio) and Christopher Maltman (Iago)

Hrachuhí Bassénz (Desdemona), Christopher Maltman (Iago), Royal Opera Chorus and Children's Chorus

Russell Thomas (Otello)

By Mark Pullinger, 13 July 2022

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Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 12 July 2022

Verdi, Otello

The Royal Opera

Daniele Rustioni, Conductor

Keith Warner, Director

Boris Kudlička, Set Designer

Kaspar Glarner, Costume Designer

Bruno Poet, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

Isabelle Kettle, Revival Director

Russell Thomas, Otello

Hrachuhí Bassénz, Desdemona

Christopher Maltman, Iago

Monika-Evelin Liiv, Emilia

Piotr Buszewski, Cassio

Andrés Presno, Roderigo

Alexander Köpeczi, Lodovico

Blaise Malaba, Montano

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Oily malevolence: Maltman’s Iago the driving force in tepid Otello revival at Covent Garden