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In the pleasant setting of a historic Zagreb residence, the gathering was opened by the Director of Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, Massimiliano Volpini. The new production was presented by choreographer, director, dramaturge and author of the musical concept Valentina Turcu, together with the production’s leading artists, principal dancers Iva Vitić Gameiro, Guilherme Gameiro Alves and Takuya Sumitomo. The discussion was moderated by theatre scholar and dance critic Maja Đurinović.

Presenting her new interpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Valentina Turcu described Othello as “Iago’s world” – a space marked by manipulation, violence, insecurity and the abuse of power.

“From the very beginning of the creative process, it was clear to me that Othello had to be a highly structured ballet. It is a political drama. The military is present throughout. These characters possess a specific physical discipline and structure in movement. This material is nowhere near Romeo and Juliet or A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Othello is a far more demanding and serious dramatic work. Working with the Zagreb Ballet ensemble has been extraordinary – a true gift – and my experience at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb has been fantastic. I can confidently say that such energy within a single theatre house is rarely found anywhere in the world. There are only a handful of ensembles in Europe capable of sustaining such a demanding and, at the same time, remarkably diverse repertoire,” Turcu emphasised.

She also expressed her gratitude to Ballet Director Massimiliano Volpini for the invitation to create the production and congratulated General Manager Iva Hraste Sočo on her clear artistic vision, under whose leadership the theatre has experienced remarkable growth over the past four seasons.

Reflecting on the creation of the ballet, Turcu spoke about the continued relevance of Shakespeare’s story in contemporary society, the challenges of translating its complex dramatic structure into the language of dance, and her return to Gustav Mahler, whose music also shaped her first original work in Zagreb, the ballet Death in Venice.

Particular attention was devoted to the creative process with the Ballet ensemble of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb. The artists highlighted the importance of deep emotional immersion in the characters and dramatic situations, as well as Valentina Turcu’s distinctive artistic method, which places truthfulness and emotional intensity at the centre of performance.

“Iago is not simply an evil man; he possesses an extraordinary ability to influence and manipulate people. What fascinates me most is that, while performing in this ballet, I feel as though I am living a real life, because manipulation and fabricated truths are precisely what we witness in the world around us today. Since beginning work on this production, I have become far more attentive to what is happening in real life. Guilherme and I share absolute chemistry on stage, the ensemble is outstanding, and I believe the audience is in for an exceptional performance,” said Takuya Sumitomo.

In the new production, the title role of Othello will be alternated by Guilherme Gameiro Alves and Pavel Savin, while the role of Iago will be performed by Takuya Sumitomo and Yuho Yoshioka. Desdemona will be danced by Iva Vitić Gameiro and Natalia Kosovac, and Emilia by Rieka Suzuki Sumitomo and Asuka Maruo.

The strong public interest in the new ballet world premiere is reflected in the fact that all June performances of Othello sold out weeks in advance.

New performances are scheduled for October 2026.