- Dvořák composed Othello, Op. 93 as the third installment of a trilogy of concert overtures called, Nature, Life and Love written between 1891-92. The other two overtures of the trilogy include In Nature’s Realm, Op.91 and Carnival, Op.92. The trilogy is connected by the main theme of Op. 91 and offers an overarching reflection on human existence.
- The trilogy as a whole is also frequently referred to by the title of the first piece, In Nature’s Realm.
- For the third part of the trilogy embodying “Love,” the composer chose to refer to Shakespeare’s tragic play for inspiration. In the score, Dvořák even notes specific moments from the plot, making the work undeniably programmatic.1
- It’s interesting to note that Dvořák’s inspiration for the “love” component of his poetic triptych is a story of profound tragedy involving murder and suicide…
Sources
- Klaus Döge, “Dvořák, Antonín,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed August 18, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000051222.
Cut IDs
40830 41355 42439