Larger Than Life : After the Raging Emotions and Towering Sets of ‘Otello,’ Another Big To-Do

After doing away with his wife, Desdemona, in a fit of jealous rage, Otello--or rather, Vladimir Atlantov, the tenor who starred in Opera Pacific’s production of Verdi’s “Otello” at the Performing Arts Center--showed his tamer side at an opening night cast party.

Without the dark makeup and fiery temperament of Otello, Atlantov was hardly recognized by the 200 opera buffs attending the midnight party Saturday at the Center Club in Costa Mesa. Guests, who included members of Opera Pacific’s Impresario Circle, sampled pasta and sweets while mingling with the cast, including Kallen Esperian, who starred as Desdemona, and Robert McFarland, whose portrayal of the evil Iago earned him some good-natured hisses and boos from party-goers.

Timeless Tale

The 57-year-old Atlantov, who was born in Russia and for much of his career could not perform outside the iron curtain, appeared to relish the opportunity to sing at the Costa Mesa center.

“It’s a wonderful theater. I’m happy to sing here a second time,” said Atlantov, speaking through an interpreter. Atlantov, who lives in Vienna, starred in Opera Pacific’s “Samson et Dalila” about five years ago.

Based on the play by William Shakespeare, Giuseppe Verdi’s “Otello” tells the story of the great warrior Otello, who is tricked by his conniving friend Iago into thinking that his virtuous Desdemona is unfaithful. Otello’s jealous rage leads him to kill Desdemona, then himself.

“People often go through situations like Otello, and they think like Otello, but fortunately most don’t act like Otello,” Atlantov said.

Mutual Admiration Society

As operas go, they don’t come much grander than “Otello,” said David DiChiera, general director of Opera Pacific.

He told party-goers that Verdi’s opera was “a great marriage of orchestra and vocal singing.” The sets, on loan from the Washington Opera, are the largest in Opera Pacific’s 10-year history.

“We needed seven trailers to get them here,” DiChiera said. “It’s the largest, most monumental set we’ve ever had.”

Party-goers raved about the entire package--sets, singers and especially the orchestra, conducted by New Yorker Steven Mercurio.

“This might be one of our best,” said Gayle Widyolar, president of the Opera Pacific board of directors. “I loved the music, and I thought Atlantov did a great job of expressing passion, fury, rage and love--the emotions came out in his voice.”

Other guests were underwriters Robert and LaDorna Eichenberg and Ben and Patricia Dolson; Karl and Conny Bergstrom; David Scott; Bill and Laila Conlin; Irv and Gloria Gellman; Charlie and Maggie Price; and Wally and Gerry Schroeder.