I'm very grateful to the BBC for creating unique performances like this in the first place (one can't imagine any company sponsering something like this today). Opera Depot already has another Otello with Cassilly singing the title role under Solti (#10870). That is also an exciting performance, but sung in the original Italian. Here a very capable English translation is used. There are, inevitably, some compromises in both meaning and emphasis, but for English speakers this is a boon, especially since the diction is so clear.Cassilly sings intelligently and well. He is one of the few Otellos I've heard who sings his final line in Act One as quietly as the composer requests. He even manages to articulate his cruel insult to his wife in Act Three up to top C! Glossop is in better voice than he would be for Karajan a few years later. For those who missed Stratas on the Met broadcast a few years later (Kiri Te Kanawa replaced her), here she is in excellent voice, one of those singers who is instantly identifiable. The supporting cast, including Joyce Blackham and Don Garrard, is terrific. Mackerras conducts the full score, the asides of Iago/Otello and Iago/Rodrigo very clear in the big third act ensemble. The sound, complete with appropriate sound effects, is excellent, several extremely brief drop-outs aside.Lovers of opera in English or this opera in particular will love this performance.

Here is an English language performance of an opera that is about 95% understandable. Almost everyone has great diction and one can feel like they are hearing OTHELLO sung. Mackerras conducts well and the sound is broadcast quality. There supporting cast is solid. Glossop is excellent as Iago. Hearing him sing it in english is such a pleasure. He knows how to keep the tone clear and ringing while every word is given it's full value. Richard Cassilly sounds fresher and stronger than in his many Met broadcasts. Not everything is perfectly in tune but for the most part this is some of the best singing I ever heard him do. His performance is deeply felt. Teresa Stratas is not completely consistent in her vocal production but when she is in her best vocal production spots the voice is gorgeous. She, is always, a wonderful singing actress and I found myself completely involved in her character. Sometimes she sounds a bit girlish but then she hits part of her voice where the quality becomes that of a very sensuous woman. Interesting performance. I still prefer Otello in Italian but if you are a fan of any of these singers you will want this performace.