OTHELLO

One of Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies, OTHELLO has been brought to stage and screen countless times. This recording, part of Arkangel's usually solid series of the Bard's plays, adds little to this history of performances. Don Warrington in the title role is awkwardly un-Moorish, though David Threlfall is more convincing as the villainous Iago - cold and calculating without any exaggerated fiendishness. Some of the minor characters shine also (particularly the Clown, who appears in just two scenes), but the music, often a highlight of Arkangel recordings, is unfortunately cloying and improbable in this production, adding another minor disappointment. D.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]