Mario Del Monaco

The best Otello

I think that Mario Del Monaco interpreted the role of Otello better than anyone else in his and in all times. I am sure that this opinion of mine is shared by many and I would like to state that Mario is the best interpreter of Otello in the entire history.Some critics are convinced that if Verdi - so careful in selecting the right person for the role - would have gone for Del Monaco instead of Tamagno for Otello's role.

Del Monaco not only had the right voice for it, but he deeply examined and looked into the challenging nature of this character in all his facets improving his style repeatedly. During his career Del Monaco played Otello 427 times.At the beginning he played it showing the power of his voice according to the established tradition. Then his Otello showed temperamental and uncultivated features. Finally Del Monaco's Moor changed into a “white educated Venetian nobleman” - a specific tradition identified Otello as a moor - taking up the appearance, the way of thinking and the sophisticated manners of Venice.Del Monaco's last performances reveal a diminished energy in his voice - like Otello he was going down "nella valle degli anni", (in the valley of years) - but they are always high-quality and appealing. It is worth noticing that even then Del Monaco was able to sing "nostra del cielo è gloria" until "uragano" with one breathing only.(Bruxelles version 1972)