"Congratulations to Peter Stein! He has managed to transfer his superb production of "Othello" with the Welsh National Opera to the small screen without damaging it in any apparent fashion. Each scene and each shot corresponds to Verdi's music in all its power. A musical masterpiece is turned into a television event. Wonderful".
(Fred Diehl in GONG)


"Verdi's "Othello" at peak viewing time, in Peter Stein's production from the New Theatre, Cardiff (ZDF) - and, like the live performance, the television version was a fascinating experience for the eye and the ear. On the stage were serious singer-actors, presenting characters in musical splendour in their capacity as world stars. The conductor (Richard Armstrong) managed to evoke every note of the score with full resonance. Peter Stein, who was also in charge of direction for television, showed all imitators who fall short of equalling him the effects which can be achieved with a feeling for the timing of the music, when musical expression and visual presentation become unified. Following the score during the piano sections made it clear that Stein has followed Verdi's directions very fussily. This is opera as a total work of art, not in Vienna, Milano or Munich - it is the Welsh National Opera which has made this event possible. See you in Cardiff.
(Volker Boser in Abendzeitung Munich)