Calgary Herald from Calgary, Alberta, Canada • 30

Alberto Festival Group, Under Arthur Fiedler Tin: THEATRE AND ENTERTAINMENT New Orchestra Gets Mixed Results PAGE 30 FRIDAY, DECEMBLR 11, 1970 TV Stars Moonlight As Voices In New Disney Musical Comedy For example extreme pprrtisjvp-iicss in the forte passages does tvt necessarily result in the dramatic tension so central to this work. LITTLE SUBTLETY And for all Mr. Aide's thundering exertions up and down the keyboard, tension was a quality curiously lacking in this performance. So, for that matter, was subtlety on those occasions when subtlety was demanded. was difficult to be enamored by the slurred effect of some of Mr.

Aide's runs or by the inordinate love affair which he at times seemed to be conducting with the sustaining pedal of his instrument. Furthermore, there were occasional eccentricities in rhythm, and some extremely unfortunate moments in the big first-movement cadenza. Tchaikovsky always viewed this concerto as a duel rather than a duet between soloist and orchestra, and I fear both participants were unequal to the task Thursday night. The orchestra was guilty not only of ragged entrances but some atrocious examples of intonation. Regrettably, the remainder of the program was uneven- Strauss' Artists' Life Waltz received a correct but rather chilly performance.

And the opening work, the Overture to La Gazza Ladra. was one of those interminable Rossini pieces which tends to wear out its welcome once the main themes have been introduced. NO ORCHESTRA SHELL Despite the size of the orchestra, it soinded thin here as it did quite often throughout the evening and, in retrospect, it seems a pity that the orchestral shell was absent from the stage. It gives musicians a greater immediacy and contact with the audience; without it, sn orchestra tends to sound at times as though it's playing at the opposite end of a long corridor. As for the major work of the evening, the Tchaikovsky Flat Minor Piano Concerto, it was a distinct letdown.

The soloist was William Aide, and for anyone who happened to hear his dazzling performance of this same concerto in a recent CBC radio broadcast of a Winnipeg Symphony concert, the verdict must be that Mr. Aide was experiencing an off-night in Calgary. the evening came when it metaphorically let its hair down for a sizzling and striking performance of a medley from Gait MacDermot's Hair. The arranger received no credit in the printed programme, and that's too bad because the gentleman responsible (I suspect it was Richard Hey-mann) did a masterful job of adapting MacDermot's music for a full symphony orchestra, and under Mr. Fiedler's guidance Thursday night, the musicians responded with enthusiasm and discipline to the challenge.

CARE AND ATTENTION It is to Mr. Fiedler's everlasting credit that he not only enjoys inserting music of this nature into a symphony concert, but that he never looks down on it. He approaches it with the same care and attention that is normally given to a major classical work. Hair, in brief, was a thing of joy. Good results were also achieved with Leroy Anderson's Christmas Festival.

Calgarians have, of course, heard this medley of Vuletide songs on previous occasions from their own orchestra, but it maintains its evergreen appeal. By JAMIE PORTMAN iHfi! S'aff Wrirer) The new Alberta Festival Orchestra made its Calgary debut Thurday nijrht at the Jubilee Auditorium. Unfortunately, despite the presence of guest conductor Arthur Fiedler on the podium, it only achieved a mixed success. The audience was small perhaps in all and this was a surprise in itself in view of Mr. Fiedler's undoubted popularity with Calgary concert-goers.

But it was an appreciative audience perhaps too appreciative at times in view of some aspects of the concert and at the end it rose to its feet for a standing ovation. The orchestra was large totalling close to 80 musicians, not only from this province but from Winnipeg and Vancouver as well. And there was certainly considerable evidence of outstanding qualities of musicianship. But there was also, on occasion, evidence of less-than-adequate preparation. HAIR MEDLEY But first, on to the good points of Thursday night's performance.

The orchestra's outstanding contribution of Calif. (Special) Television personalities are usually tied up from three to Eine months working on a scries and have only a few months hiatus to do anything they please. Most television actors prefer to make movies to touch bases with their medium's parent industry-It is not surprising then to see some well-known television names among the voice cast of Walt Disney productions' The Aristocats, new musical animated feature about a mysterious catnapping. What is surprising is the large conglomeration of television stars in a single motion picture cast The catch is of course that viewers won't see them, but merely hear their voices as they bring cartoon characters to life, a task much more difficult than playing their regular roles. Heading the ca.4 is Eva Gabor, currently in her sixth season as Lisa on CBS's Green Acres, who plays Duchess a feline heiress.

And abo from Green Acres, Pat Buttram, the whimsical Mr. Haney, plays Napoleon, a cartoon tire-biting hound. Then there's George Lind-pay, better known as the simple-minded Goober on Mayberry, R.F.D.. as Lafayette. Napoleon's bike-chasing sidekick.

Nancy Kulp. the prim Miss Hathaway on The Beverly Hillbillies, speaks for Frou Frou. a carriage horse; while Laugh-In's wacky Ruth Buzzi sings for the same animated character. TWO ENGLISH ACTRESSES Two giddy English actresses, Monica Evans and Carole Shelley, who created the giddy English Pigeon sisters in The Odd Couple on Broadway, then recreated them in the motion picture version and now continue to play the roles in the new tv series, characterize two daffy Reese, the Gabble sisters, in the Disnev cartoon. PENLEY'S-Ti me 9 p.m.

DAIICIIiG FRIDAY ONLY December 11 THE SELDOM BLEST Swinging Fun For Singles, Couplet or Groups 263-6360 5th Ave. and 3rd St. S.W. Los Angeles Airport A Busy Spot Entertainment Stars Winging In And Out For Upcoming Christmas Holiday Season By MARILYN BECK ISpCi3! To Th Herald) LOS ANGELES A. International Airport's starting to become the most action place in town, as the stars wing in and the stars wing out for the upcoming holiday season.

Donald Sutherland has been in residence here the past few weeks, after winding up a mighty successful year of film assignments which included work in four top flickers. Donald's wife has been very much beside him since he left Klute shooting with Jane Fonda in New York. He and Shirley even managed to duck away for a week-long Mexican holiday before heading to our town. BOB HOPE GOES SOON And Bob Hope, for a change, is packing his bags. He leaves Decemljer 14 for his round-the-world Christinas trek of the U.S.

Army bases. This time it looks as if Dolores will be staying home. She talked Bob into taking her along several seasons' 1 It rr back and the boys loved the way she sang. But she was too much a reminder of home and mother to the lonesome Gls Bob decided. Rapid Robert tells me he's still trying to recover from his recent London shock, where he was honored on the British version of This Is Your Life.

Mildred Rosequist, Bob's first dancing partner who now resides in San Diego, proved one of the biggest surprises to Bob on the show. But what got to him the most was that all four of his gorwn children flew over to Blighty for the big television event. ALMOST GAVE IT AWAY Daughter Linda had to work extra hard to avoid ruining the surprise, when she was having her hair set in Mayfa the day before the filming and newspaper pho-toqs invaded the shop lo snap Tina Sinatra in rollers and clips. Linda, sitting under the Lml0 I dryer beside, her, had to beg the fellows, "Don't snap me. My father might see the picture in tomorrow's paper and know I'm here in London." Susan Day, young Far-tridge Family cutie, will visit her family in New York for tiie holidays.

The 17-year-old actress admits she's been homesick for her kin since moving out here to co-star in the ABC show. But she's a Utile apprehensive about the trip, too. It seems Suzie's fallen in love with Hollywood these last few months, is afraid once she gets home all she'll do is mope about returning to the West Coast. Jim Drury says he's all set to take off for Chicago as soon as the holidays are over. The Men From Shiloh lead has a January date in the Windy City to star at the Drury Lane Theatre.

It looks like a good year coming up for Woody Strode. He's all set for a starring role in Larry Spangler's Nigger Charlie, filming in Italy. This after completing a meaty role for Spangler in The Last Rebel with Joe Namath, also shot in Italy. Woody has a lot to thank RESTRICTED ADULT 1 4 If ISI PH Nt Mum A JOSEPH E. LEVINE Larry Spangler for.

He admits that he "couldn't get arrested" in America after making Spartarus. until Spangler started signing turn for his Italian epics. Dennis Hopper and bride Michele Phillips decided they were happier before they legalized it all. They are having the marriage annulled. Keenan Wynn's son, Tracy, has gotten an early ChrisU mas present: Word from ABC that Tribes will be distributed for theatrical release.

Tribes was the recent ABC Movie of the Week that drew such critical raves and, most encouraging, ended up Number Two in the Neilsen ratings that week. There's an interesting story behind the story. Triltcs was 25-year-old Tracy's first serein play sale. He thought for a while hs had it sold to a major studio, but the tight film market caused the studio to shelve the project and Tracy eventually sold his Marine Corps yarn to ABC. Now it will get its turn in the theaters, too.

The main thing that could hurt ticket sales is the fact so many millions already saw it. Remember My Sweet Charlie, the Patty Duke Emmy-winning movie for television last year? That was released to the theatres. It laid a big, fat bomb. -J. mi mmWim MIKE NICHOLS PJ i'g PAST v.r LAWRENCE TURMAN THE GRADUATE COLOR "'usii S.E.

HYLANO THEATRE 122? 9th Avt. 242-6742 ANNE CAMPBELL SINGERS ADULT NOT FOR CHILDREN 2r SPEND A DAY WITH CLINT Jhe most brilliant. present "the singing tree" Sunday, December 20th 8 m. Jubilee Auditorium Tickets: By Ticket Wicket 262-7761 CHinook Ticketonum 252-2861 Adulti S2.0O Students ft Old Age Pensioners 11.00 Pffl incredibly marvelous film I've seen in NEW '71 4-D00R VW's AT PACOS VOLKSWAGEN 7004 Macleod Trail 35S-M81 I. A.

1' EASTWOOD! A 5 orb years" Passes Tidy Measure MOSCOW fReuter) The Supreme Soviet approved Thursday a anti-pollution measure which provides for criminal proceedings against anyone found guilty of polluting lakes and rivers. SPECIAL GERMAN LANGUAGE ENGAGEMENT FAMILY SEE ONE! SEE ALL FOUR! TODAY AT 7:30, SATURDAY SUNDAY AT 2:30 7:30 "One of the most IllijJUildlll Him SPEND AN HOUR! ACTIVE CLUB GAME 5 ot the yean i A marvel-1 SPEND A DAY! ous picture! AP.CHR 77 Yok Po-J 1 1 1 1 1 Hi i ill rTHTi FR0M striking movie! IF VOU HAVf A BLACKOUT CALL 243-0765 "Binge Cards still avfilablt at leading drug stores." RIKA HUDOtf rCK tTk 264-1800 it- tioquent ana i important!" I "An American masterpiece Director Bob Rafelson will probably win every award issued this yearr G-53 N22 DEUTSCHE jf WOCHENSCHAU Two numbers will bt called each day untH a blackout is confirmed. SIO.H-,., Or 5W 252H611 r-E CAME TO 'T WITH AND WENT AWAY WITH DADDY! WEEKEND "Ifyouseenothinq I else this vear, 1 "A fascinating film! Abrasively contemporary and hauntingly universal!" WITH THE MA you must see I lyBABYSITTERt -r hve tasy heces! JUDITH CRIST. titVV V03K MAC ff VI JACK NICHOLSON FIVE PIECES KAREN ELACK.S'JSAN ANZPACH RESTRICTED COLOR ADULT DAILY :5 WATINEE SUNDAY AT 1 ur RESTRICTED ADULT PRIZES UV7 fJj h.o&"'1 vH su 1:00 3:00 P.M. K.DS CMffiSJ t.

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J4 i ,0 mam mmm hihm mi's mmmmmmmmmmmmpt ALL II II II III! lYil I II I Jllil SHOW AT 1:00 HEY KIDS! n' ll ll r-. 1 17 Iffjvfiili I3 SATURDAY MATINEE! VIRGINIA McKENNA BILL TRAVER Urd S.W. 242 2700.