The legendary Bolshoi Theater in Moscow which celebrates its 250th anniversary on March 28, opened its anniversary year with a performance of Verdi’s Otello. It was first performed at the Bolshoi over 40 years ago. The Bolshoi was built by a decision of Catherine the Great, and it was on the stage of the Bolshoi that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was declared. This was where Tchaikovsky would conduct and where famed bass Fyodor Chaliapin would perform.
Theater director Valery Gergiev, worked with Giancarlo Del Monaco, the son of the famous Italian tenor Mario Del Monaco, on the choreography. Del Monaco introduces a ballet scene to the accompaniment of music with an oriental flavor written by Verdi, which his father had used for his performances of Otello in Paris.