The Othello Syndrome

Summary

The Othello Syndrome is an album by pianist Uri Caine featuring compositions based on excerpts from Giuseppe Verdi's opera Otello which was released on the Winter & Winter label in 2008.[1]

The Othello Syndrome
Studio album by
Uri Caine Ensemble
ReleasedOctober 26, 2008
RecordedFebruary 2005 to March 2008
GenreContemporary classical music, Jazz
Length75:23
LabelWinter & Winter 910 135–2
ProducerStefan Winter
Uri Caine chronology
Pure Affection
(2007)
The Othello Syndrome
(2008)
Secrets
(2009)

Reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [2]
PopMatters          [3]

In his review for Allmusic, Ken Dryden notes that "Opera fans without a sense of humor will scoff at this recording, but Caine shows a love of the music, even in his madcap charts".[2] PopMatters correspondent Will Layman said "The Othello Syndrome, Caine's zany take on Verdi's 1887 opera, is Caine's most consistently focused classical project and, plainly, one of the very best".[3] On the website All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey wrote, "The Othello Syndrome is Uri Caine at his mad scientist best: conjuring music from a million different places and making it sound like it was with you at home all the time".[4] JazzTimes reviewer, Perry Tannenbaum, observed "The Othello Syndrome is obviously a meticulously crafted piece. While its daring and eclecticism will no doubt spark lively controversy, its heart points up the beauty of Verdi's score".[5]

Track listing edit

All compositions by Uri Caine after Giuseppe Verdi

  1. "Othello's Victory" – 3:39
  2. "Fire Song" – 4:56
  3. "Drinking Song" – 4:25
  4. "Love Duet with Othello and Desdemona" – 8:28
  5. "Introduction to Act II" – 2:49
  6. "Jago's Credo" – 4:42
  7. "She's the Only One I Love" – 6:02
  8. "Jago's Web" – 3:55
  9. "Desdemona's Lament" – 4:44
  10. "Am I a Fool?" – 5:18
  11. "The Lion of Venice" – 3:53
  12. "Othello's Confession" – 3:25
  13. "The Willow Song / Ave Maria" – 7:41
  14. "Murder" – 4:17
  15. "The Death of Othello" – 5:05

Personnel edit

  • Uri Caine – piano, keyboards
  • Ralph Alessi – trumpet
  • Achille Succi, Chris Speedclarinet
  • Joyce Hammann – violin
  • Nguyên Lê – guitar
  • Tim Lefebvrebass, electric bass
  • John Hebert bass
  • Jim Black, Zach Danziger – drums
  • Bruno Fabrizio Sorba, Stefano Bassanese – electronics
  • Bunny Sigler (tracks 1, 4, 7, 10 & 15), Dhafer Youssef (tracks 1 & 14), Josefine Lindstrand (tracks 4, 9 & 13) – vocals
  • Julie Patton (tracks 4 & 14), Marco Paolini (tracks 6 & 8), Sadiq Bey (tracks 6, 12 & 14) – voice

References edit

  1. ^ Uri Caine discography. Retrieved February 11, 2014
  2. ^ a b Dryden, Ken. Uri Caine Ensemble – The Othello Syndrome > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Layman, W., PopMatters Review, August 24, 2008
  4. ^ Bailey, C. M., All About Jazz Review, August 29, 2008
  5. ^ Tannenbaum, P., Uri Caine Ensemble: The Othello Syndrome Review, JazzTimes, December 2008