Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.) Cover Image

Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score

$50.00 USD
$50.00 USD
Skip to product information
Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.) Cover Image
Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score

Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score

By Antonin Dvorak, ed./arr. by Frantisek Bartos/ Otakar Sourek

Item: 36-A718201
$50.00
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score & Parts

$125.00
View
Description
Written in 1892 as Antonín Dvorák (1841-1904) was considering Jeannette Thurber's generous offer to move to the United States and serve as director of her National Conservatory of Music in New York, OTHELLO (OTELLO) is the second work in a triptych of concert overtures meant to offer impressions of what the human soul may experience. Originally titled Nature, Life, and Love, Dvorák decided to publish each with a more distinct identity: NATURE'S REALM, Op. 91 for nature, CARNIVAL, Op. 92 for life, and OTHELLO, Op. 93 for love. OTHELLO take its epic character from the Shakespeare's famous work of literature, and it represents love in its most destructive form, jealousy, which underpins the drama. While the overture is not a faithful adaptation, certain parallels can be found and some of the motifs fit with dramatic sections of the play. The work premiered on April 28th, 1892, by the Orchestra of the National Theatre in Prague, Dvorák conducting. Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2+1(EH).2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1-2): Hp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition. This critical edition was edited by Dvorák expert Otakar Šourek and František Bartoš. The original published edition is also available from E.F. Kalmus.

Othello Overture, Op. 93/B. 174 (critical ed.): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works, Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Critical Editions
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 8-89-810410-3
ISBN13: 979-889-810-4108
UPC: 605258739582
SKU: 36-A718201
Instrumentation: 2(2nd dPicc).2+1(EH).2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(1-2): Hp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Antonin Dvorak

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) stands among the most significant symphonists of the Romantic era, a composer who synthesized European classical traditions with the folk idioms of his native Bohemia. His output spans nine symphonies, numerous concertos, chamber works, and choral music, all marked by memorable melody, rich orchestration, and a distinctive voice that earned him international respect during his lifetime.

Dvořák's career reached a pivotal moment in 1892 when American patron Jeannette Thurber invited him to serve as director of her National Conservatory of Music in New York. The three concert overtures he composed around this time—Nature's Realm, Carnival, and Othello—represent his most ambitious exploration of the symphonic poem form, each capturing a different facet of human experience through orchestral color and thematic development.

Why we love this

This overture gives orchestras a chance to command the Shakespearean drama without mounting an opera. The work balances symphonic architecture with vivid storytelling; conductors appreciate how Dvořák's genius for orchestration creates theatrical impact through purely instrumental means. Programming all three overtures as a thematic suite offers audiences a rich concert experience that feels both intellectually coherent and emotionally compelling.

What to expect

Othello unfolds as a psychological journey through passion and betrayal, beginning with subtle unease and building toward turbulent climaxes driven by obsessive rhythmic figures. The instrumentation shimmers with color; Dvořák's orchestration moves between intimate chamber-like textures and full ensemble power, creating an atmosphere of brooding intensity beneath moments of almost unbearable beauty.

Who it's for

Conductors leading orchestras with sufficient string depth and a complete woodwind section will find this work rewarding. The piece demands mature ensemble cohesion and careful attention to balance, making it ideal for orchestras with intermediate-to-advanced capabilities and rehearsal time to shape its dramatic arc.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the English horn solo in the opening against the lower strings; this melody carries the emotional weight of the work and must sing through even as the texture grows.
  • Watch for the contrast between the jealousy theme's agitated figures and moments of lyrical repose. These shifts define the dramatic arc, so clarity of articulation in the faster passagework prevents the piece from becoming murky.
  • The timpani and percussion parts are essential to pacing tension. Ensure your timpanist understands the dramatic function of each entry rather than treating them as mere accompaniment.
  • Coordinate the harp with the strings during the lyrical passages; Dvořák uses the harp to add shimmer and depth, not to stand apart.

How to use it

Consider pairing this overture with Carnival and Nature's Realm to create a thematic program that explores human experience through Dvořák's lens. As a standalone work, it functions well as a concert opener that immediately establishes the evening's emotional stakes, or as the centerpiece of a Romantic-era program alongside other concert overtures or tone poems.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing multiple simultaneous melodic lines across the orchestra
  • Shaping long-range dramatic tension through tempo and dynamic control
  • Coordinating complex rhythmic figures between percussion and string sections
  • Responding to the conductor's interpretation of a work with programmatic content
  • Maintaining ensemble cohesion through extended developmental passages with shifting instrumental focus

You May Also Like