Johannes Erath’s detailed handling of the psychology of his characters in Otello, Verdi’s penultimate opera, still manages to leave plenty of room for interpretation. A critic wrote "….the incredible intensity of Johannes Erath’s direction of this tragedy....the tension between the protagonists is always tangible." One of the things to look forward to in this, the first, revival is the American soprano Leah Crocetto (see photo) as Otello’s doomed wife Desdemona. This is her house debut, in a role she recently sang at La Scala Milan.

Johannes Erath enjoyed a triumph with his new production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto here this season. His Otello, which was new in 2011/12, starts off celebrations at Oper Frankfurt to mark the 2013 Verdi Year. Otello is being sung by the Canadian tenor Lance Ryan, who has just been thrilling audiences here, as he does all over the world, with his Siegfried in Wagner’s Ring des Nibelungen. Intendant Bernd Loebe first heard Leah Crocetto in audition in New York. She will sing Desdemona again later this season at the Teatro la Fenice in Venice before they go on tour to Japan. The Romanian born Hungarian Bálint Szabówar, a member of the ensemble at Oper Frankfurt for four seasons from 2005/06, now returns as a guest to sing Lodovico. Members of the ensemble taking part in this production for the first time are mezzo-sopranos Jenny Carlstedt and Paula Murrihy as Emilia, and the American tenor Beau Gibson as Cassio. The Herald is sung by Iurii Samoilov, who joined Oper Frankfurt’s Opera Studio this season. Led by Marco di Felice as the poisonous Jago, all the other roles are being performed by artists who took part in production when it first opened. Riccardo Frizza, who specialises in Italian repertoire, has recently conducted in Munich, Vienna, Paris, San Francisco and New York. This is his house debut. The two performances in July will be conducted by GMD Sebastian Weigle – who led the production when it first opened.

Further performances: July 4th & 7th, which both begin at 7.30pm