The Metropolitan Opera opened on Monday night, and opened powerfully. The opera was “Otello,” Verdi’s – and Shakespeare’s – crusher of a drama. Music director James Levine was in the pit, delivering ...

Otello (John Kun Park) gets a winding up from the devious Iago (Robert Balonek) in West Bay Opera’s production of “Otello.” Courtesy Natalya Polyakova. It’s amazing to witness, year after year, the ...

Once you get over the shock that Shakespeare’s immortal masterpiece has been turned into a stereotypical Italian opera of the early 19th century, where minor character Rodrigo, now in love with ...

The flattering look dilutes the dramatic effect, however. Less perfection needed. For you need to suspend much disbelief to accept Kaufmann (pictured below) as a man so prey to doubt about his sexual ...