Cyprus, at the end of the 15th century, is an outpost of the Venetian Empire, at war with the Turks. The Governor is the Moor Otello, who has just married Desdemona, the young daughter of a noble Venetian family.

Act 1. The quay, between the castle and the tavern. Night.

A storm rages as Otello leads the Venetian forces in a sea battle. A crowd watches from the port. In the confusion of waves and lightning Montano, who preceded Otello as Governor of Cyprus, recognises the Venetian emblem of the Winged Lion. Cassio sees that it is Otello's ship. The crowd prays to God to save the Venetians. The storm worsens when a hurricane blows up, throwing the people into panic as the universe seems to fall into chaos. Otello himself proclaims their victory over the Turks as the storm abates, and so restores calm to Cyprus. The crowd hails him as their saviour.

Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman in love with Desdemona. Desperate with melancholia he thinks of suicide. But Otello's ensign Iago persuades him to wait, claiming that Desdemona will soon tire of the savage's attractions. Iago longs to revenge himself on the Moor, who promoted Cassio to the rank of captain and left Iago his ensign.

The crowd celebrates the victory with dancing around a fire. Iago ensures that the occasion turns into an orgy of drinking and that Cassio gets drunk. When Montano comes to fetch Cassio, who is due to go on duty, Iago lets him know that the captain is as drunk as this every night. On Iago's instructions Roderigo insults Cassio, so as to provoke him to a fight. Montano intervenes, but only succeeds in offending Cassio, who turns on him and wounds him. Iago makes sure that the whole town is thrown into panic.

Otello has been roused from his bed. He restores order and accepts Iago's halting explanation of what happened. When he learns that Montano has been wounded by Cassio he almost loses his temper. Desdemona has also been awakened by the noise. When she arrives Otello calms down. He deprives Cassio of his rank, ensures that Montano is attended to, orders Iago to calm the city and sends everyone home.The two lovers are left alone together, remembering how they first fell in love. Otello told Desdemona the story of his life. She fell in love with him for his misfortunes and he loved her for her compassion. Otello is overcome by love and asks Desdemona for a kiss. The night is now far advanced; they go back inside the castle as Venus shines in splendour.

See next page for Act 2