essays, list of cueing points (and who's singing), Rodgers/Hough, Woodforde- Finden/Hough, Fried- and aHungarian-English libretto. If you like man, Saint -Sains/Godowsky, Rosenthal, Godowsky, Levitzki, Palgren, Moszkowski your tea strong and the idiom doesn't bother Stephen Hough, piano you, you'll never forget or regret this. Virgin Classics VC 790732-2 (CD only). John H. West, —Robert Levine Mark Vigars, Craig Dory, engs.; John H. West, Craig Dory, prods. DDD. 63:02

Classical Collections This admirable melange of popular encores of the past (Paderewski's Minuet, "The Swan"), BOSTON CAMERATA: Noël, Noël! some less-well-known examples (Palmgren, French Christmas Music, 1200-1(,00 Gabrilowitsch), and Stephen Hough's own The Boston Camerata, The Boston Shawm & Sackbut expertly conceived and pianistically grateful Ensemble; Joil Cohen, din arrangements (Richard Rodgers, Quilter) is, to Erato ECD 2292-45420-2 (Cl) only). Ysabelle Van Wersch- Cot, prod.; David Griesinger, eng. DDD. TT: 62:47 my mind, agreat fun collection, one to be thor- oughly enjoyed when heard either selectively Idon't know if anyone (with the possible or in consecutive sequence. The weight of the exception of the prodigiously erudite J.F. repertoire rests on the many favorites of so Weber) has ever sat down to the enormous task many pianists of yesteryear, and the 29-year- of cataloging all of the medieval and Renais- old prize-winning Englishman has obviously sance Christmas albums. In any event, there are got those performers' sounds and styles very an awful lot of them; every major early-music much in his blood. In all ways, this is brilliant, ensemble appears obligated to do at least one. scintillating playing. The piano reproduction Not only that, but they have proven so popular is extremely even but rather too distant for any that your local classical FM station will, as the ideal representation of color and intimacy, this Yuletide approaches, actually take abreak from perhaps being the only criticism that one could Erich Kunzel and play selections from one or level. Overall, however, if the term "a good more of these collections. read" is an acceptable one to describe abook The point of the above is that Christmas to be savored, Stephen Hough's album just as music may be many peoples' only experience surely deserves to be called "a good listen." of medieval or Renaissance compositions. I'm —Igor K ipn is glad, therefore, that Joël Cohen and his col- leagues have done such agood job with this CD. To be sure, the first three selections (sub- Show Music sumed under "Midnight in Bethlehem') feature the "stagey" effects that have distressed me BOSTON POPS ON BROADWAY 1990: Music of ibe about one or two previous Boston Camerata Nigla John Williams, Boston Pops Orchestra releases, but the remainder—by far the bulk Sony SK 45567 (CD only). Thomas Z. Shepard, prod.; Bud of the disc—is well-played and expressively Graham, mg. DDD. TT: 72:39 sung. The range of material covered is con- siderable, but appropriate to this sort of record. The package from Santa Fe contains five CDs: The variety of sound which can be very some more stuff by Kurt Weill, Frederica von pleasing in an anthology of this kind is Stade singing pop, and this one. Wait, there's provided here by the use of no less than nine anote on it from RL: "Not for review Unless.. .?" vocalists, all of whom assume solo or small Makes sense; Richard knows Ifind Pops arrange- group roles. There are particularly fine contri- ments of show music to be generally tepid, butions from tenors William Hite and John lacking in theatricality. Good thing he didn't Fleagle, and mezzo Laurie Monahan (the latter ask me to do areview. Might as well play it, two being members of the excellent Ensemble though. Hmm. "Everything's Coming Up PAN). Idon't care much for Cohen's own sing- Roses" sounds a bit like elevator music. ing, but it is by no means obtrusive. Advance to track 2: "No One Is Alone," from Sonics are typical of Erato's Boston efforts— Into the nods. Lovely arrangement, especially timbre is good enough, and voices are well the use of strings. Let's see who did it. Aha! balanced, but dynamics and resolution are a Angela Morley, arranger for Lerner & Loewe's bit limited. This should not, however, put you highly underrated movie version of The Little off what is avery worthwhile release. Prince. Talented woman. A Bernstein medley —Les Berkley is next. "New York, New York" drags. %%Ice up, guys! Andrew Lloyd Webber gets his turn — Don't Cry for Me Argentina" arranged like a STEPHEN HOUGH: The Plano Album Music of MacDowell, Chopin/Liszt, Quilter/Hough, Doh- cross between Ravel's Bolero and the "Theme nányi, Paderewski, Schleizer, Gabrilowitsch, Richard from Bonanza." Morley did not do this one.

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