Best. Verdi. Video...Ever?

Well, no, there's no such thing as the best Verdi video ever.

But if I had to choose one clip, just one on this, the sainted Verdi's bicentenary, this is the one I'd be clinging on to.

Jon Vickers. Otello. The essence of Verdi distilled. Enough said.

Except, you can get this whole performance (from the Met) on DVD, and I heartily recommend it, even with the presence of Cornell MacNeil as Iago.

P.S. Yes, that last high note is raw, yes, there are technical imperfections. But still, this is, you know, the real thing. This is it.

Tags

Verdi, James Levine, Metropolitan Opera