Daily News from New York, New York • 12

Essex 1ST 1 10 scrubbed look (one might think 16th-century burghers actually bathed every day), but one cannot deny their attraction. Cincinnatians Ralph and Patricia Corbett, who donated the' production, must be almost as happy as they doubtless were about what happened in Boston the night before. direction was functional, if not terribly imaginative. Except for a disastrous Act II finale, the chorus sang well and looked good, though Jim Croce mustaches on teenaged would never have been tolerated by their mas-ten. The Carl Toms sets and costumes are likewise a bit anachronistic in their well- 2 lift The Berber' 'LJ left the sex out By ERNEST LEOGRANDE David Essex is a 28-year-old British rock singer who has inspired teenaged girls to frenzy in his native land.

His song, "Rock On," was a million-copy seller in the U.S. in 1973. He's been seen here several times on television and as the star of a short-lived movie, "That'll Be the Day." A sequel, "Stardust," was shown briefly in Los Angeles and Boston and since then inexplicably has been sat on for months by Columbia Pictures. The company now promises a general unveiling here by December. After all this time, after four U.S.

visits, Essex is making his first live appearance here with a national tour beginning at New York's Bottom Line through Saturday. -He is highly "personable, with a cherubic smile and demeanor, a lad a girl could take home to mum and dad. This is part of the reason his show didn't catch fire in its opening performance here, 10 P5 to i i By BILL ZAKARIASEN A Though Wagner's "Die Meistersinger" received a sparkling- new production at City Opera Thursday, the sights and sounds wer for once up-staged by the text, which was presented in an English version-by John Gut-man. "Meistersinger" has a libretto of utmost sophistication and Gutman's translation is literate and often witty. It is to the company's credit that the audience chuckled at the lines, not only the bucolic actions.

Most gratifying was the fact that those singers with the best singing methods had the best diction. Finest in this regard was James Billings, a splendid singing actor who sounded almost too good for the blundering Beckmesser, but whose every word was clarity itself. Debutant baritone Norman Bailey was a Hans Sachs -of authority- and humor; his voice is strong if a bit rough, and his enunciation, barring some distorted vowels, was clear. Johanna Meier and Gary Glaze were just about perfect as Eva and David; John Alexander likewise as "VVal-ther, except for a tendency to drop phrase endings. Julius Rudel'g conducting was brisk but full of friendly detail, and the orchestra has never sounded better.

Cuts in the 4Vi-hour work were minl- mal; more was heard of the music than at the Met last PEOPLE, PLACES David Essex despite the musical creativity it showed. Rock performers who aspire to a level of energy beyond a Helen Reddy or a John Denver should not ingratiate mums and dads. They should put them on guard or disturb them or yes even excite them. As Essex pulls his show together, he should adjust to the age and cultural differences between his British audiences and his American ones. He has brought his own band with him, including a black male vocal trio from Liverpool, The Real Thing.

ROGERS IS READY. Young tenor Paul Rogers will make his New York recital debut at Carnegie Recital Hall Sunday, Nov. 2 at 8. RICCI RETURNS. Violinist Ruggiero Ricci will be soloist with the Queens Symphony under David Katz at Golden Center, Queens College, Saturday, Nov.

1 at 8:30 and Sunday the 2nd at 3. ROSTROPOVICH REHEARSES. -The renowned Soviet cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostro'povich will hold a public rehearsal with the Juilliard Concert Orchestra of Tchaikovsky's "Pathe-tique" Symphony in the Juilliard Theater Monday, Nov. 3 at 8:30. For tickets, call 799-5000, ext.

235. PEREZ PREMIERE. The Rudy Perez Dance Theater will perform Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 2 at 8 in the Mary mount Manhattan College Theater, 221 E.

71st St. Included will be the premiere of "Colorado Ramble." Happily, she was part of a cast with stagione virtues that might keep Rossini's 159-year-old comedy running nightly for months to sellout business. The audience was delighted not only with Miss Cuccaro but also with Kostas Paskalis In his first appearance here as Figaro. He has a fine voluminous voice and intimate acquaintance with the role. New, too, to the still quit serviceable Cyril Ritchard-Eu-gene Berman production was John Nelson at the conductor's desk.

Nelson maintained the requisite spriteliness pretty well. Ron Eyer ntrecflotry WTSXKR OF 5 TOyY AWARD8 BROADWAY'S BIGGEST HIT MUSICAL COMEDY "ONE OF THE BEST MUSICAL STAGINGS TO BE SEEN ON BROADWAY IN YEARS" Ctive Barnet, N.Y. Time IPPIN Evss. at 7:30: 15, 12, 10. 8, 7, Wed.

Mats, at 2: 111. 10, 9, 8, 7, 4. Sat. Mat. at 2: $12, 10, 9, 8, 7, Enclose self-addressed envelope.

List alternate dates. Group Salet: m-vniTicketron: 541-7S90 IMPERIAL 249 W. 45th St. CO 5-2314 The J975 GRAMMY (7t TOSY AWARD RBEST MUSICAL A I Tues 8 Wed 2 a 8 Thurs a Frl 8 Sat 2 Sun. 3.

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52nd NYC. 244-4270 CHARGIT: Maj. Cred. Cardt (tit) J0I9-7J77 Tues-Fri. 8 P.M., Mats.

Wed. Sat. 2, Sun. 3 "DOUG HENNING IS BRILLIANT." Wattt. Pott HE MAGIC SHOW "A Delightful Musical!" Setctdau FOR GROUP SALES ONLY CALL 757-9288 CORT THEATRE, 138 W.

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Sat. 2, Sun. 1 fICKETS ALSO AT TICKETRON: S41-7290 Sjcpntt Honored at Box Qc. It took Toledo-born Costan-za Cuccaro eight years to return to the stage where she the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1967 to make her debut as Rosina in "The Barber of Thursday night. The homecoming followed time obviously well-spent in opera houses in Zurich, Munich and elsewhere, and finally Berlin, where she is a regular member of Deutsche this point in fcsir career, Miss Cuccaro is a splendid coloratura soprano with a beautifully disciplined voice of good quality which she employs with the intelligence and stage expertise of a veteran.

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at 2:30. Sun. ttlt 5:30. Purchase tickets by phone with Credit Cards 757-7H6. EDISON Theatre, 757-7144 240 West 47th N.Y.C.

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44 St. 391-0043 Ticketron: 541-7290Group Sales 354-1032. CHARGIT: Ma) Credit Card (ill) 8.59-7J77 TODAY at 8 jttviil. BBST PLAY J97S N.Y. Drama Critics and Tony Awards ANTHONY PERKINS in PLYMOUTH 234 W.

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at 8 PM. Mats. Wed a Sat 2, Sun 3 Ambassador Th. 4 of Bway 245-1855 2 ickttion dt Chuive Tic on Maj. Cred.

Cunla AH SO ITO. An evening of. classical Japanese dances will be given by Sachiyo Ito and her company at the Japan House Auditorium, 333 E. 47th St, Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8.

MILIO MELODIES. Soprano Elizabeth Milio will give a song recital in Carnegie Recital Hall Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8. STARKER STARTS. Cellist Janos Starker and pianist Menahem Pressler give the first in a series of Beethoven and Brahms concerts at Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium (Metropolitan Museum of Art) Thursday, Oct.

30 at 8. CALL HIM BLANCHE. Actor Chris Sarandon, who makes a smashing screen debut in "Dog Day Afternoon" as Al Pacino's homosexual wife, Leon, had Blanche DuBois in mind when he auditioned for the part. "I tried to capture her femininity," he says. Adventure BEYOND BELIEF! rnuiuoia mvicsnu or rnnmcia COLUMBIA time around.

John Cox's stage ADVERTISEMENT 1 A lot of guys and dolls will be reviving fond memories when they're dining at Luchow's tomorrow. Because the guestceleb the "salutee" on this Sunday's "Salute To The Stars' at the venerable 14th Street Restaurant Landmark will be vivacious Vivian Blaine, who created the original "Adelaide" in the great musical. "Guys And Dolls." No hike in prices, no extra charge of any kind for rubbin elbows with Vivian and her own coterie of guys and dolls at Luchow's. TODAY AT 2:00 8:30 PM -TOMORROW AT 2:00 PM VADiSON SQUARE GARDEN i ASS0CIA1KJN VM IH OXtJVh'A -RIlStSAND THE RE PUBLIC Of CHINA PfttSLNI THE SPECTACULAR CKSNESE ACROBATS OF TAIWAN! COMPANY OF 65 PRICES $7.50,6.00,4.50 CHILDREN (-12 UNDER) Vi PRIft TODAY AT 2:00 PM ONLY. FOR INFORMATION CALL (212) S4400.

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