Rossini: Assisa a' piè d'un salice / Sat at the foot of a willow

​The American choreographer Kyle Abraham subtly depicts the injustice, sorrow and despair that were expressed in Rossini's Willow Song. The poetic images, the joy of the encounters between the dancers and their hopeful looks offer a way out. Because hope brings life!

Concept and choreography: Kyle Abraham
Music: Gioachino Rossini - "Assisa a' piè d'un salice" from Otello
Arrangement and harp: Arielle Valibouse
Soprano: Jennifer Coleman
Dance: Claudio Cangialosi, Mikio Kato, Ruka Nakagawa, Lateef Williams

"And never again let the air 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 lover Desdemona are dispersed by Jago's jealous and xenophobic intrigues, Desdemona is left alone. She remembers Isaura, who, like her, was unhappy in love and mourned her fate under a willow tree.

For this video, the harpist of Orchestra Opera Ballet Vlaanderen Arielle Valibouse created a poetic arrangement for harp of one of the most beloved arias in the repertoire, which in this video is sung in a heartfelt way by soprano and member of the OBV Choir Jennifer Coleman. Choreographer and rising star Kyle Abraham created a moving choreography for four of our dancers: Claudio Cangialosi, Mikio Kato, Ruka Nakagawa and Lateef Williams.

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen is a leading performing arts organization that creates opera, dance and concert for all ages in Ghent and Antwerp. The program includes new creations, forgotten masterpieces and well-known titles from opera and dance history.