Otello, e.g. is an OPERA by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, based on the play Othello by William Shakespeare. It premiered in 1887 and is one of Verdi's most popular works. The story follows the tragic downfall of the Moorish general Otello, who is manipulated by his ensign Iago into believing that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful. The OPERA is known for its powerful arias and choruses, as well as its dramatic intensity.