CLASSICAL Reviews music springs." Imbedded in this melody is Rosette Martine Mahe (ms) the Kaddish tune from the Symphony No. 3 Des Gricux Alfredo Kraus (t) THE of Leonard Bernstein, who commissioned Guillot Charles Buries (t) Aureole and received its dedication. It is a Lescaut Gino Quilico (b) coloristic tour de force by one of today's De Bretigny Jean-Marie Fremeau (b) Hotelkeeper Jacques Loreau (b) SOURCE greatest masters of instrumentation. Frag- Le Comte des Grieux Jose van Dam (bs-b) mented, almost impressionistic dabs of col- Orchestra and Chorus of the Capitol de or dot this sonic canvas, from powerful per- Toulouse, Michel Plasson, cond. [Eric Mac- cussion to delicate filigree in the winds to leoud, prod.] Angel DSCX 3946. $38.98 (digital string glissandos and snarls of brass. At recording; three discs, manual sequence). Cas- strategic intervals, the Kaddish tune eerily sette: 4X3X 3946. $29.98 (three cassettes). appears in the winds, as if fleetingly heard A right round welcome back to the mainline through the parting mist. Of course, it is not catalog for this irresistibly melodious and always possible to be a tone painter and persuasive opera. an effusion of felicity and melodist simultaneously, and one some- passion and sheer musical charm. Surely. times feels that there is more shimmer than Manon is second only to Carmen on the list substance here. Yet the piece is still a sonic of French operatic love stories. (Do I hear stunner. cries of Pelleas? I must proclaim an allergy. Colgrass takes Druckman's eclectic A Pellet's night is longer than a Nibelungen mixture of past and present. of tonality and cycle to this operagoer.) It seems astonish- THE ALL NEW atonality, one step further. Deja vu (1977), ing that until the appearance of this issue which was originally intended to be a con- you could get stereo sets of Cendrillotz, Le 1984 EDITION OF certo for the New York Philharmonic's Cid, Le Jongleur de Notre -Dame, even principal percussionists, evokes both per- Esclarmonde, all rare and arcane operas. MUSICAL sonal and universal pasts. On the one hand. while Manon, Massenet's most popular it recalls the composer's early career as a work, has been absent from SCHWANN since AMERICA percussionist; on the other, it uses vague the Sills/Rudel set was withdrawn a few INTERNATIONAL historical allusions, apparent when the uni- years ago. Of course. the glorious old mono fying theme is transformed into styles rang- recording with Victoria de Los Angeles in DIRECTORY ing from classic to romantic to jazz to seri- the title role and Pierre Monteux conducting al. Colgrass, as would be expected, handles is still around on Seraphim. but not always of the his huge percussion section with aplomb. easy to find. and he too is a fine orchestrator. Yet here At any rate, here we have a modern PERFORMING ARTS the melodic parameter is cultivated from the and most competent performance that will lush lyricism of the strings to the passionate give much pleasure. The production is very The most encompassing and informative Directory outbursts of the brass. Most important, his much in the Gallic opera comique style. of the Performing Arts in America. wild eclecticism-which might spell self- Listings of orchestras. opera companies. rather thanthebig -leagueinternational publishers and artists' managers Competitions. destruction in the hands of a lesser compos- mode favored by the major record compa- foundations and awards: performances. performers er-never threatens the work's unity and nies. And yet the principal singers are stars, and organizations More than 600 pages of complete national and in- integrity. An almost Ivesian joy in juxta- members of the upper -crust opera circuit. ternational performing arts information with both a posing disparate material is obvious in one The orchestra is perhaps not the top drawer categorical and alphabetical advertisers index in the rear section, where Colgrass adroitly combines but the chorus and supporting cast are It is the one Directory of The Performing Arts that hushed, sustained strings with intrusions of autochthonous and idiomatic. And conduc- can and will be referred to all year longIt is The jazz and Webernian pointillism. Light Spir- tor Michel Plasson has clearly grown up in Source it, a 1963 chamber work, likewise high- the tradition. lights percussion and displays a marvelous- Since anybody seeking a stereo Manon Only$40. ly uninhibited yet convincing integration of has nowhere else to go, there does not seem Available now! styles. much point in a detailed examination of The Saint Louis Symphony. under every element. The most problematical fea- Slatkin's dynamic leadership, plays these ture concerns the title role and Ileana Cotru- r 1 works with just the right combination of bas, who, wonderful singing actress though Mtracal Awe[Ica Directory 1984 accuracy and abandon. As we have learned sheis. does not do equally wellinall

ABC Single Cony Sales 18th F I to expect from other recent Saint Louis aspects of the role. She restrains herself in 828 701 Ave NY NY 10019 releases, this is certainly one of the finest saying farewell to "noire petite table" MAD 84 American orchestras. New World provides where others make that Act II air an extrav-

Please send mu _Conies itl1 he 198,1 a flawless pressing, coupled with a sonic aganza in pianissimo effects. She is suitably Musical Aineiica Durclithi at $4000 each Ipostagi, and clarity,spatialseparation.and timbral childlike and virginal in the first act, insuf- handling Allow 46 weeks tot shinning warmth characteristic of the very best ana- ficiently meretricious later on. meltingly log recordings. James Wierzbicki contrib- seductive in the St. Sulpice love duet, not utes exceptionally detailed and intelligent quite sparkling enough on the Cours la NAME liner notes. Anyone interested in where Reine. (This was the scene of Beverly American music is heading would do well Sills's greatest coup as Manon, both in the ADDRESS APT # to add this release to his library. New York City Opera production and the K. ROBERT SCHWARZ 1971 recording.) The Cotrubasperfor- CITY mance, then. may be accounted a fine achievement if not a fully persuasive one. STATE ZIP MASSENET: Manon. (-AST. Her partner. Alfredo Kraus. is not to Enclosed is my check money order for $ Manon Ileana Cotrubas (s( be faulted. There is a scrupulous fidelity to Payment must accompany order Pousette Ghyslaine Raphancl (s) the printed notes. which, coupled with an For postage and handling outside the U.S.A.. add $10.00 (Air Printed Matter. add S20.001 Javotte Colette Alliot-Lugaz Is) innatefeelingforMassenet's manner.

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