“Othello in the Seraglio” – trailer

“Othello in the Seraglio” – trailer

This is the trailer of the film version of a ‘coffeehouse opera’, entitled “Othello in the Seraglio: The Tragedy of Sümbül the Black Eunuch”, produced by Dünya

Stream on TUBI

Conceived and composed by Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol
Storyteller script by Robert Labaree

Based on:
The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare (1603)
Un Capitano Moro (A Moorish Captain) by Giovanbattista Giraldi (Cinzio) (1565)
Kızlarağası’nın Piçi (The Bastard of the Chief Black Eunuch) by Reşad Ekrem Koçu (1933)

Original music by Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, and with music from 16th and 17th century sources from Europe and Turkey arranged by Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol

featuring,
Meddah Hayali [Max Sklar, a speaking role]: a traditional Ottoman coffeehouse storyteller
Sümbül Ağa [Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, tenor]: an aged, retired chief black eunuch of the Ottoman court
Suzan [Camila Parias, soprano]: a European slave girl who becomes the wife of Sümbül
Frenk Mustafa [Michael Barrett, baritone]: Sümbül’s aide, a former European slave
Saadet [Burcu Güleç, contralto]: Suzan’s maid, a Turkish village woman trained in the palace
and,
Michael Barrett, lute, recorders • Beth Bahia Cohen, kemane (spike fiddle), violin, çiftetelli (octave violin) • Burcu Güleç, kaşık (wooden spoons), parmak zili (finger cymbals), castanets • Robert Labaree, çeng (Ottoman harp), voice • Carol Lewis, gamba • Steven Lundahl, sackbut, trumpet, recorders • Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol, ud (short-necked lute), ney (cane flute), zurna (double reed pipe) • Dan Stillman, sackbut, trumpet, dulcian • George Lernis and Bertram Lehman, percussion: nekkare (small kettledrums),davul (bass drum), darbuka (hour glass shaped drum), bendir (frame drum), daire (frame drum with bells), gongs, cymbals, talking drum, bombo and kös (large kettledrums)