Otello (usually singing it in German). The Russian heroic tenor Ivan Yershov was a renowned pre-World War I Otello in his native country. His compatriot Arnold Azrikan achieved his greatest recognition as a dramatic tenor in Otello. For this performance he was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1946. Enrico Caruso was studying "Otello" when he died unexpectedly in 1921, thus thwarting the New York Metropolitan Opera company's plans to stage the opera as a new vehicle for its star tenor. Currently, Plácido Domingo has appeared in more video productions of the opera than any other tenor. Also, he has recorded the
Gustavo III (Verdi) words" The opera would no longer be his. When the manuscript of "Una Vendetta" was returned to him, Verdi found that it been renamed "Adelia degli Adimari" and now set in 14th Century Florence. Even worse, he noted that of "Una Vendetta"s 884 lines, 297 had been changed in "Adelia". Although Torelli attempted to get the composer to compromise and meet with the censor on 20 February, Verdi dug in his heels and, in his reply to Torelli, refused to accept any changes: "...I cannot commit the monstrosities that were inflicted here (Naples) on "Rigoletto" ", referring to how that