The American tenor will sing this iconic Verdi role for the first time in the Canary Islands, Spain, and will go on to perform it again in the coming months at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in his South American debut, and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
“I have been preparing Otello for six years. Otello is my Bible: it is always close to me,” says tenor Michael Fabiano, who will perform the iconic title role in this Verdi opera for the first time on 24, 27 and 29 March . “I have read Shakespeare’s play several times and I believe it is a role that comes at a very good time; Otello is an outsider, someone different from those around him, a commander with boundless passion and a deep admiration for his wife and his country,” explains the American singer. Ahead of his debut in the role, Fabiano reflects on the many facets of the part, which he associates with “leaders in positions of power, who tend to be anxious individuals, always looking over their shoulders, wondering who wants to kill them or take away their position; it is, ultimately, a psychologically fascinating role to perform and immensely compelling from a vocal point of view”.
Michael Fabiano’s career is currently in a particularly exciting phase, with Spain emerging as one of his main centres of activity: during the 2025/2026 season, in addition to performing Otello in Las Palmas, he has taken on roles such as Don José in Carmen at the Teatro Real in Madrid and Enzo in La Gioconda at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, before tackling the title role in Andrea Chénier on his return to ABAO Bilbao Opera. “I love Spain and I am always delighted to perform for Spanish audiences, with whom I connect and feel a special bond, so I am very happy now to be adding a new theatre in Las Palmas to my schedule.” The Gran Canaria Otello production, is being produced by the Amigos Canarios de la Ópera, and is being directed by Carlo Antonio de Lucía, with Carlo Montanaro conducting the Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra. Alongside Michael Fabiano as Otello, Erika Grimaldi is taking the role of Desdemona and Gabriele Viviani will be Iago.
Michael Fabiano’s forthcoming engagements, apart from those already mentioned in Spain, include Otello at the Capitole in Toulouse (April) and at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, as well as another production of Otello at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he will also take the role of Radamès in Aida, also by Verdi. ◆