The Othello Syndrome

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
Released	October 26, 2008
Recorded	February 2005 to March 2008
Genre	Contemporary classical music, Jazz
Length	75:23
Label	Winter & Winter 910 135–2
Producer	Stefan Winter
Uri Caine chronology
Pure Affection (2007) The Othello Syndrome (2008) Secrets (2009)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
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

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

• Uri Caine – piano, keyboards
• Ralph Alessi – trumpet
• Achille Succi, Chris Speed – clarinet
• Joyce Hammann – violin
• Nguyên Lê – guitar
• Tim Lefebvre – bass, 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