Otello

A rebel with a big heart
On 26 and 29 September, in the atmosphere of Indian summer, the State Opera will host the
premieres of Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello, in which the main female role of Desdemona will be
performed by the sympathe”c soprano with a beau”ful voice Olga Busuioc. What was her journey
from a small Moldovan village to the world opera stages? How did she impress the legendary
Mirella Freni? And why to love Verdi’s Otello? Find out more in the following lines.
You were born and grew up in Moldova, a country that the Czechs, I dare say, don’t know that
much about. What was your childhood like?

 ! ”! 
#!! 
! $”
”#%!! &
!”’(
”” )!
!*  ”
Both your parents were singers?
+&  ””
&”!”&
 &
&,,!-
%./0!!

12!
! 3

When did the impulse to start studying singing professionally come?
2-!
!,’,.”45678+
!2!
. !
”! 
$ 
 
Why?
.*#’
  ”! #
*!$ 
(!
”*”4!! 

  • 9    
    
    Is it true that your parents were also your teachers? And in hindsight, do you see this as an
    advantage or disadvantage?
    ””!! 
    ”-2” 
    : 2! %-
    2! 
    .7;’(&
     ! .
    4!.
    -” 
    -  !,<, (
    ’#<
    <4! *
    %=! ’&
     ””
     !;
    <#  ”<-
    !,+,-  ”!
    #!!-
     ,!
    ,(!  >-”&
    <( 
    (””!!”!&*!
    ”!& (
      # !=’
    (!! 
     #!<
     ” 
    !  
    )
    You studied with Mirella Freni. What kind of teacher was she?
    (=(.?!*
     !(
    4, !
    ! ””
    ! !”,-
    *@” . 
    ’) ”A1?
    1?@ &
      &

  • ’&””&
    
    How did the audi”on go?
     B !”!
    ”?= ’* ”!
    2!4,C !%!
    #7,,@*!,,!,
     Moon in the Deep Sky!9  
    ( ! 
    D.@4,D7, Senza
    mamma  Suor Angelica(”<
    ! )
    >=-!!’#<
    !!!,#7,,#!,
    ’,&)+
    ,(2
    ! *@
     *1==>A
    1?(& 
    What was her style?
    -!!
    2”.
     ! :
    A
    E= %&
    #? % %:!( 
    >?
    Your domain is mainly the Italian repertoire. Is there a di0erence between singing Puccini and
    Verdi?
    ( !!”! 
    $F.”!
    $1!2!!=
     $
    Like what?
    ! F!
    C2!
    ”2&
      :=  Don
    Carlos!2! )’

  • When you talk about Don Carlos, twenty years passed between the composi”on of that opera
    and Otello. Does Verdi use a di0erent musical language in Otello?
     (G!3 Aida!/0
    27(’ 
     2$” Otello!
    C  
    !!”7& 
    ’(   -! 
    &!! ”!
     (’- !
    &%4,(’’,&
    ’
    Desdemona is a deep believer, and so are you. Do you see this character from that perspec”ve as
    well?
    +! >”=
    ! ! %(
    - %
    Is that why she insists so li3le on Otello at the end? Why she defends herself so li3le?
    -!%2()’-
    !!<”+!!
    =(”=
    ” 
     ( 
    What do you think this opera is about? About trust, about manipula”on?
    ( !   (&”
    ?& ”(
    
     %&””*
    !#!<! 
     +=F”
     Otello (1
    <”
    Racism is also o5en men”oned in connec”on with Otello. Is that a theme of this opera for you?
    ;$$!$:2”
    &!! 
    Are you okay with Iago not being punished at the end?
    (=’(3! ! .
    #!
    ( !!F”!,#

  • 7,.!  ’&
    &F”
    Thanks to Verdi’s favourite, Teresa Stolz, the Na”onal Theatre was one of the 8rst theatres to
    perform Otello a5er its Milan premiere. How are you looking forward to returning to Prague?
    &;”&!1
    4!!&’
    &”%
    !’2”
    How old is she?
    &
    So maybe one day she will be an opera singer too?
    !!
    <. (
    !) 
    HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
    Olga Busuioc !==&”.!(
    *!&@(D(*
    *@-=”””4
    1I!@JD””.!-*=
    D””#.#%  -
    @-&9
    *!A(!1(9-K!;”
    !->&!-%-> 
    @”!DD- Madama Buery- 