Giorgio Gaslini

Mister O is a jazz opera by Giorgio Gaslini, a retelling of the Othello story for singers, three rappers and a large jazz orchestra, recorded in Milan in July 1996 and released by Soul Note in 1997. The text is by Vittorio Franchini, and the characters keep their Shakespearean outlines under new names: Mister O, Des, Jago, Cassio, Emilia. The credits for a director, a choreographer, costumes, lighting and two dancers point to a staged production behind the recording. Gaslini, whom ANSA described as a pioneer of modern Italian jazz, wrote operas and ballets alongside his jazz work.

The recording was made on July 1 and 2, 1996 at Logic Studio in Milan by Rolando Alberti, with Giovanni Bonandrini producing and Gaslini conducting. Arturo Testa sings Mister O, Bernardo Lanzetti is Jago, Paola Lorenzi is Des, Maurizio Sciuto Cassio, Laura Conti Emilia and Marco Radaelli Branbanzio. The three rappers are Cristiano Pecchio, Luca Lapenna and Piero Lucarelli, and three singers voice the young people of the New Village. The Grande Orchestra Jazz includes Gianluigi Trovesi on alto and soprano saxophones, Carlo Actis Dato on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, Daniele Di Gregorio on vibraphone and xylophone, tuba, a small string section, Roberto Bonati on bass and Giampiero Prina on drums, among others. The opera runs in two acts across 21 tracks. The first moves from a prelude and dance to the rappers, the New Village scene and two ballads. The second sets duets for Cassio and Jago, Otello and Jago, Emilia and Des. Among them are an Otello Blues of six and a half minutes, a Preghiera, a one-minute Free Jazz and a closing chorus.

This is the Soul Note CD 121300-2, first released in 1997, with the complete opera on one disc.