Why can Otello be difficult for opera companies to perform?

Otello is considered difficult for opera companies to produce primarily due to its significant technical and performance demands. Unlike many of Giuseppe Verdi’s earlier works, which feature distinct, stand-alone arias, Otello is composed with a seamless musical continuity that integrates lyrical moments into the broader dramatic flow.12

This structure, combined with the score's intensity, places extreme requirements on the performers. Specifically, the roles demand exceptional vocal stamina, range, and flexibility from the singers to navigate the complex, nuanced orchestration and harmony that Verdi employed to underscore the characters' emotions. Because of these rigorous artistic requirements, the opera is often viewed as more challenging to stage than several of the composer’s other, more traditional works.1