And let the air no more

In a subtle way, choreographer Kyle Abraham portrays the injustice, sorrow, and despair expressed in Rossini's The Willow Song. The poetic imagery, the joy of the dancers' encounters, and their hopeful glances offer a way out. For hope keeps us alive!

‘And let the air never again repeat the sound of my lament.’ Thus ends the third verse of Rossini’s famous and poignant aria from Otello, known as the Willow Song. When the African war hero Otello and his beloved Desdemona are driven apart by the jealous and xenophobic intrigues of Iago, Desdemona is left behind alone. She remembers Isaura, who, like her, was unhappy in love and wept over her fate under a willow.

For this video, Orkest Opera Ballet Vlaanderen harpist Arielle Valibouse created a poetic harp arrangement of one of the most beloved arias in the repertoire, which is sung with deep feeling in this video by soprano and OBV Choir member Jennifer Coleman.