MUSIC WEEK JUNE 28, 1975

D D C D 0 ^ir IV n Guildhall School performances in characters to tell much the same June proved that with care they had story as last year's Henze The Production costs force Strauss bitten wisely and chewed much Bassarids at the Coliseum - an more than fairly well. They had a illustration of the conflict between liny stage and limited resources, but human order and human sensuality, superb an experienced and practical the Apollo-Bacchus (Dionysos) conductor in Vilcm Tausky, and a 'syndrome'. The rather thick and National Opera cut REVIVAL AT Covcnt Garden of capable producer in Dennis heavy orchestration docs not help , are going ahead. Season, opens Richard Slrauss's large-scale opera Maunder, plus two former students singers, and conductor Charles NEED TO reduce production costs August 1 with revival of lhe Die Frau Ohnc Schattcn (The in Terry Jenkins (on the second Mackerras, never noted for English-language Strauss p,. Woman Without A Shadow) brought night) to sing the taxing role orchestral reticence in the theatre, Roscnkavalicr, followed by Carmen Sir Gcorg Solti back to his former of Bacchus. The Ariadne (Penelope often drowned the singing and the Don Carlos, Mary Stuart and Madam stamping-ground directing a Thorn) sang the part as well as any words - so necessary in such a Butterfly. First new production of performance of shattering intensity seasoned soprano, but unfortunately complex story-line. Peter Knapp as Offenbach's La Belle Hclcnc, comes and profound musical the Zerbinetta (Janice Lucas), while , Janet Gail as his Queen ^0"; Benjamin Frankel's opera on September 4. The two others are understanding, out-rivalling the singing the enormously difficult part Roxana and Richard Angas as the Marching Song has for Richard Slrauss's Salome, first maj0r success of the initial performances adequately, gave no hint whatever deep-voiced Archbishop managed to being been dropped. Frankd, who production in English of 1967 and 1969. For one thing, of the lightness and frothy sparkle get across the footlights and the died two years ago, would have opening on December 11, folkllowcd ' the orchestra, almost the start of of the part and her interpretation orchestral sound-web fairly well. been the only British composer in on February 4 by the new this revival, was in infinitely better never left the ground. A smart trio Unfortunately tenor David Hillman, the new season. production of Puccini's Tosca. form, Solti had a better grip of of Clowns helped along the lighter the Shepherd (Bacchus) was not The other three new productions balance between pit and stage, and moments, and an equally fine vocal nearly audible enough. But the there was a commanding Wife in blend was achieved by the three opera showed that it is a worthwhile c nductJ , S0 f'pnnr Solti was in the record department of London Bo„d Helen Dcrncsch. Here was a voice attendants. Naiad (Sylvia Foxall), and fascinating piece of music, Decca " " ' Jls £s, week to sign for customers copies of his new that soared easily above the Dryad (Nancy Green) -.rand Echo worthy of a modern and properly S'raet Store Chappel! ciassical promotion manager Ray Crick recordings. From lef umnasercss Pat Harrison. Sir Georg Solti, Decca glittering tapestry of orchestral (Mary McSwecney). Apart from a balanced new recording apart from re or sound, and acting that gave point little indecision from the important the Polish-made import (Muza label, Chappell f ^enTast Selecta area supervisor Dennis Beaumont and and reality to the role. The opera is horns, the Guildhall School SXL 0250-1) which is available from managing director r^cn ■ a strange one, a multi-layered story Orchestra did a fantastic job. The specialist dealers. EVAN SENIOR Selecta London rep John Rapson. of allegorical significance, held wonder, as Dr. Johnson said of a together by a tight and moving dog walking on its hind legs, was score as packed as usual with not that they did it so well, but Slrauss's haunting melodies. It needs that they did it at all! great singers, and apart from Dernesch it had good ones but not too good; James King as an oddly Polish ineffective Emperor, Heather Harper as a rather watery Empress, Donald y- •!?w Mclntyre as the Dyer in not as good premiere voice as he was some years ago. / / ; Ruth Hesse repeated her vicious performance as the evil Nurse. The JUDGING BY the audiences of musicians, musicologists and real star was Strauss and the Covcnt opera-lovers who filled Sadler's Wells Garden orchestra. Theatre for its two performances, the New Opera Company's \ t premiere British staging of Karol Brave bite Szymanowski's opera King Roger WHEN A group of student players filled what is in cliche-terms called and singers decide to stage Richard va long-felt want'. Elaborately staged Slrauss's opera , a and splendidly produced by natural reaction would be to think Anthony Besch, the opera is rather that they had bitten off more than a scries of three dramatic scenes set they could chew. In the result, the in medieval Sicily, and using its ■

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Vimuoso r A GERMAN EVENING «\v THE NEW YORK BRASS ENSEMBLE Shura Cherkassky — Piano The Glorious Gabrieli 1 Symphonica Of London Baroque brass music played by the New York Conducted by Wyn Morris Brass Ensemble. Beautifully recorded. And featuring The Ambrosian Singers ECL 9039 This "German Evening" starts with Beethoven's dramatic overture "Egmont", continues with the first recording of the choral and orchestral version PADEREWSKI of Brahms' "Liebslieder Waltzes", and ends with a Ignace Jan Paderewski scintillating performance of Schumann's immortal Piano Concerto by the renowned soloist Shura More great news for historical coUectors. A fine Cherkassky. selection of piano virtuosity, that justly demon- TPLS 130 63 legend W name Paderewski has become a GVC 43 A FRENCH EVENING ft Yan Pascal Tortelier — Violin s LAURINDO ALMEIDA Symphonica of London C)f La Conducted by Wyn Morris classicalurindo Almeida This is a pleasantly chosen miniature concert and a C e a guitarist, Laurindo Almeida is generally well played. John Manson's musirftmusiciansano^f of ?iTthe centuryPPearance series. in the great L» VC 31 £•5 scontributionsh yn to the5 Debussy Danscs is elegant and ofVH. the i^"Pavane Mo Pour™ produces Une Infante an excellent Defunte" account Yan Pascal Tortelier, around whom the collection is built, is evidently a fine violinist, technically JEA-N-MBHRE; RAMPAL assured and capable of producing warm, rich and 1( en Sound finely-controlled sounds. Gramophone May '7 5 Jean®p92 l Of Jean-Pierre Rampa Ptogramme^haV the Sreatest living pianist in a 222!^ - TPLS13062 the full. demonstrates his technique to SFrfw*"' ECL 904 0 I# v * ^saowis- AN AUSTRIAN EVENING Rita Streich — Soprano MONTEVERDI Symphonica of London The Onon Chamber Orchestra Conducted by Wyn Morris And Singers The sunny atmosphere of the attractive sleeve f Verdi S early photograph is fully sustained by the Derfnrrn^e ,orm an pieces' ^v^r^Montnttverdl^ - operatic master- of both orchestra anrl QrUr.ic» r»,,>"„.V f . ces no exception ' record sells, this will be sleeve-note, u (which accentuatesnu auiuist. ournctt Lehar's James' name AV wrongly throughout) provides unexpected addit ECL 9038 " FRavl lonal entertainment0 I 1 d er,withiaus an unconventional actuaUy discoveredi.^^. ' f 5 trying. T on Plother misTreS'sin which Adeled?^ is by the "Marquis Renard", who turns out k mm'o ??n?.ky in di5BUiS(i! Gra™phone Ma^'T 5

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