St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 70

st. louis post-dispatch ARTS ENTERTAINMENT Sunday, January 6, 2002 G5 CDs Classical Sarah Brightman fans strike back 3 sen selection of American folk hymns and spirituals. As an accompanying essay says, "For a period of about 250 years, from the arrival of the Puritans in the early 1600s to nearly the end of the 19th century, the most pervasive musical form in America was the hymn." This collection surveys the scene from colonial composer William Billings through the "Sacred Harp" and Negro spirituals to the hymns of the late 19th century revivalists. The 13-voice chorus sings them tunefully and mostly a cappella, with just the right amount of idiomatic flavor and a reasonably good blend. Sarah Bryan Miller ft Puccini: Messa di Gloria.

Magna, Hampson; London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; Pappano, cond. (EMI Classics CDC 7243 5 57159 2 0) Like Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) put virtually all of his compositional energies into opera. Each of them also wrote some religious music, but even their nominally liturgical works rank high on the theatricality meter. Puccini's "Messa di Gloria" (written in 1880, it was published posthumously) isn't as big as Verdi's "Requiem," but it fits neatly with the rest of Puccini's output. Parts of it may sound familiar; he recycled bits of this work in various operas, notably "Manon Lescaut." It gets a first-class production from conductor Antonio Pappano, with tenor Roberto Magna and baritone Thomas Hampson taking on the soloists' parts in full-throated operatic style.

The London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra shine. The disc is filled out by a pair of early instrumental works another atypical form for Puccini. Sarah Bryan Miller J.S. Bach: Partitas 1 English Suites 2 3. Anne-Marie McDermott, piano.

(GMN.com 758747011222) This is a beautifully realized performance of four beloved works by Johann Sebastian Bach. Performing on a modem piano, Anne-Marie McDermott plays with both technical virtuosity and evident joy. The music comes alive under her fingers. Sarah Bryan Miller Shall We Gather: American Hymns and Spirituals. William Appling Singers; William Appling, conductor.

(Albany Records TR0Y476) In 27 selections that take up just under an hour, conductor William Appling and his eponymous chorus explore a well-cho Sarah Brightman, our critic insists, "is a pretty good pop singer, a soubrette who was once married to composerPuccini devotee Andrew Lloyd Webber. She has the money and PR clout to push a delusional belief that she has the chops to sing operatic arias and millions of fans who agree with her." "Millions of records cant be wrong." "SBakerl," 123001 In last Sunday's Year in Review column, I wrote about a number of bests (and a few worsts), including a citation for "Party Disc of the Year." A party disc, of course, is a recording that's so bad it's funny, something that is to its genre as, say, a Earth" is to cinema. A true party disc is a serious effort, with Sarah Bryan Miller P-D classul niiac cnhc sbmMIerpo3HSspatch-coa pretensions to-w a greatness and high-level production values. My award winner qualified on all counts: "Party Disc of the Year: Sarah Brightman, Not since Florence Foster Jenkins has a vocalist of such colossal ineptitude taken on such great music in public. And unlike the legendary FFJ, Brightman dares to cross gender lines with 'Nessun Jenkins (1878-1946), for those who have never experienced the dubious pleasures of her vocalism, was a wealthy New York matron given to public recitals and lavish costumes, with a delusional belief that she was a gifted coloratura soprano and the financial means to present herself to an enraptured public.

Sarah Brightman, for those who have been dwelling in darkest Afghanistan, is a pretty good pop singer, a soubrette who was once married to composerPuccini devotee An-, drew Lloyd Webber. She has the money and PR clout to push a delusional belief that she has the chops to sing operatic arias and millions of fans who agree with her. For me, as a lover of opera and the trained voice, hearing Schubert's "Ave Maria" crooned in little-girl tones or her breathy, swoopy take on "0 iMio Babbino Caro" -to say nothing of her absolutely bi- I TV Late shift Jay Leno's guests on "The Tonight Show" 10:35 p.m. weeknights on Channel 5 Monday George Clooney, penguin man Ken Hodg- kins, music by R. Kelly Tuesday I Russell Crowe, inventor Dean Kamen (the Segway gyroscopic scooter), music by Sting Wednesday 1 Tom Cruise, music by Elton John Thursday 1 Cameron Diaz, Luke Wilson, comic Dane ICook iDrew Barrymore, Ashton Kutcher, music Sugar Ray i if 4 are talking and yes she DARED to cross gender lines with 'Nessun Dorma' and succeeded Most consider her version of it the best out there! She takes risks and is a unique artist and the best one out there just wanted to let you know that your article was clearly "sarahfanlS" "I am an old led zepplin van halen rocker who was bowled over by the Perfect Beauty of Sarah's voice about three years ago I dont think comparing her to opera singers is fair, since she doesnt do opera, and doesnt consider herself an opera singer.

It isnt fair to those overstuffed incessant warblers who run up and down the scales with their shreekish bravados to be compared to the Perfect Beauty of that which is Sarah's." "KeenKerr" "Why you are not barefoot in your kitchen, I'll never know!" "Signed, A Teenaged Music Fan" DINNERS 4030 -J 1 ik, 1 I "Better to sit quietly and let those around you think you a fool, Than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Sarah Brightman is a great talent that only improves with time. When you and I are long gone and forgotten Ms Brightmans Music will be ever alive and be loved by Millions." Wizard "ps.Party Kidding Right" "Your criticism of Sarah Brightman is proof of two things: 1. You should be fired immediately. 2.You have severe hearing problems." "Isaiah312" "God, what a snobby (expletive) you are.

And how dare you as an American to write about arts and culture anyway? But then, who cares about your rantings in a local St. Louis newspaper anyway?" "Amelia2000" "You've got to be kidding me? Party disc of the You obviously have no clue what you TWI-LITE Dream Kitchens Buy Direct From Distributors WM.M0DERmTCHENSANDBATHS.COM Johann Michael Haydn: Mass Vespers for the Feast of Holy In nocents. The American Boychoir; Members of the New York Collegium; James Litton, cond. (Linn CKD 152) This is remarkably cheerful music for a day that recalls the slaughter of the infant boys of Bethlehem, King Herod's "kill 'em all, let God sort them out response to the Magis' enquiries as to the whereabouts of the infant King of the Jews. But as custom evolved, the Feast of the Holy Innocents turned into a sort of "children's day." Michael Haydn, younger brother of the better known Franz Josef Haydn, specialized in church music as the court musician to Salzburg's powerful Prince Archbishop.

These services were done for the boy choristers of the cathedral to perform on their own, without the lower voices of the men. Haydn's sections are interspersed with both plainsong and instrumental bits by Mozart Although not all of the boy soloists are of the same high quality, there are some beautiful voices here, and the choral work is well done. Litton conducts his choristers and orchestra with a sure hand. Sarah Bryan Miller For 0 happy ending to your search, read Post Classifieds. 621-6666 Always Best Sellers.

Post Classifieds I Book Lyrics by John Jiler Music by Ray Leslee Directed by John Ruocco JANUARY 2 FEBRUARY 1 Along an avenue dividing two ethnic neighborhoods in 1963 Brooklyn, the a cappella rhythms of doo-wop, rock-n-roll, gospel and blues provide a common language. Major Sponsor: Mary Ranken Jordan Ettie A. Jordan Charitable Foundation ai4)968-4925 Studio zarre version of "The Song to the Moon" from Dvorak's "Ru-salka," done in Italian as "La Luna" to generally popped-up accompaniments is something to cause tears of either pain or laughter. I chose to laugh. Her fans were not amused.

I heard from many of them within 24 hours, thanks to an alert local reader who posted the snippet on a fan message board. Most were angry; a few of them were polite. Many pointed out that Brightman has sold millions of recordings and even performed with assorted famed tenors. More important and most legitimate, they said her voice had touched them. They wanted equal time, and then some.

Here it is. The spelling, grammar and sentence structure are theirs. I have used their screen names, minus domain names, rather than their real names. This sampling does not include the obscenity-laden notes that made up about a quarter of the correspondence. "The Late Show" with David Letterman 10:35 p.m.

weeknights on Channel 4 Monday Gwyneth Paltrow, latest "Survivor: Africa" evictee, music by Starsailor Tuesday Cate Blanchett, bear expert Timothy Treadwell Wednesday Jennifer Connelly Thursday Jack Black, music by Fco Fighters Friday Julie Bowen (TV's comic Colin Quinn deliver them to you when you return. AT JAN. 18 -19 SERVED EVERYDAY 4 7 PM ROASTED PRIME RIB OF BEEF ROASTED PORK LOIN FRESH ATLANTIC SALMON CANNELONI VEAL PARMIGIANA GRILLED CHICKEN TERIYAKI All the above entrees served with Soup or Salad, Vegetables, Baby Red Potatoes, Rolls and Butter Regularly $10.95, just $8.95 with this ad. Not Valid holidays or with any other offers. Offer expires January 1 9, 2002 NORTHEAST CORNER OF DORSETT AND I-270 SMI We will gladly donate your papers to Newspapers in Education (NIE), a program that uses newspapers in the classroom to encourage students to read and to learn about current events.

If you would rather receive the newspapers you missed, we will Going 1 In 291 LgUIS ORCHESTRA. Powefl Symphony Has is located at 718 N. Grand BoutevanL Mainstage Contains Strong Language by Becky Mode Directed by John Going "An acting tour de force." -JurJth Newmark, St Lexis Post-Dispatch -Joe Pollack. KWMURado perfect 10." -Brian Hohlfeld, 77k Riwfmnt Taws Major Sponsor: Mercy Health Plans Call Now For Tickets! Repertory Ay? (ae Slit of town? Now, the Classic Film with Subtitlej-So Everyone eaa Sinj Along! The London New York Smash! Uiitit) Lin TWr vitfc chute fib hr D-R-Mi-Fn! CW for Mini! Clink Ef'rf MMitti! Wm ftw Efclmiul hi cMTtt, Siij AImj! 3 HOW1 ONLY! vpm fN Xy 1 FBI Irresistible fun! A New Favorite Thing!" 1 I FOX THEATRE Tltklft MtUit rt offiM wi.