Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 20

New riTTSBLT.oll POST-GAZETTE: Thursday, Jan. 29, 1987 21 opera books range from gossipy fun to crashing bore sscsssstssssjasss: I I post-cazette staff wmer The early pictures are partic.iar- reur" in San Diego, 1983. yr' Books about music hardly ever do wonderful the more so for being The "Big is the subject of Books THE JOAN SUTHFRI ANin ai justice to their subject, for the music "Grandissimo Pavarotti," subtitled BUM by Joan Sutherland, with Richard Bonynge. Simon and Schuster. 191 pages.

$19.95. GRANDISSIMO PAVAROTTI Text by Martin Mayer. Double-day. 224 pages. $40.

BARITONES AND BASSES DISCUSS THEIR ROLES by Helena Math-eopoulos. Harper and Row, 338 pages. $25. SKELETONS FROM THE OPERA CLOSET: AN IRREVERENT APPRECIATION by David Groover and C.C. Conner.

St. Martin's Press. 243 pages. $15.95. unflattering to tne point oi caricature.

If anyone wondered whether Dame Joan ever had an interest in modern music, that curiosity may be dispelled by photos of her in the premiere of Michael Tippett's "A Midsummer Marriage," with her comment: "The vocal line was extremely difficult, and I never understood the story." Later, Dame Joan becomes the elegant lady, but she always retains her gift for laughing at herself. One of the best photos shows the soprano, with tenor Luciano Pavarotti, in bathing costumes: 'Big PV and I prepare for a dive." And Pitts-burghers will enjoy seeing her with itself is inevitably more interesting than what can be written about it Books about musicians, on the other hand, can be informative and, when the artist is an opera singer, good gossipy fun. This is indeed the case with several new opera books, the best of which is "The Joan Sutherland Album," ostensibly written by the soprano and her conductor-coach-husband, Richard Bonynge. It is, in fact, a beautiful collection of their personal photos, beginning (opposite the title page) with the young Bonynges shielding themselves from rain, captioned, "The "a celebration of the career of the world's greatest tenor on the silver anniversary of his debut" Like the tenor himself, this volume, with text by Martin Mayer, is oversized, over-hyped and overpriced. It is filled with good photos, however, and many will enjoy it as a cocktail table adjunct It is perhaps more than mere coincidence that the remaining male opera luminaries have to share the space in Helena Matheopoulos' "Divo" a book (in which Pavarotti is also included) about 60 percent the size (and price) of "Grandissimo." Even Pavarotti's closest rival, Pla- 'V Recommended films ON THE VERGE Preview performance.

New City Theater, Bouquet and Sennott streets. Tonight at 8. ORPHANS Pittsburgh Public Theater, Allegheny Center. Today at noon (open stage) and Luciano Pavarotti cido Domingo, is apparently not nearly as grand as the man himself. Matheopoulos is a bit star-struck by her idols, but she provides entertaining reading, and some valuable reference facts nonetheless.

This is a strange book part interviews, part opinion that doesn't quite work. For those who revel in the absurdities of opera, "Skeletons from the Opera Closet: An Irreverent Appreciation," by David Groover and C.C. Conner, should have considerable appeal. It is verbose and often just poorly written, however, and hap- Joan Sutherland hazard in its organization. Even the opening anecdote will be confusing to a reader who doesn't know in advance that "The Halls of Montezuma" is really a tune from an obscure Offenbach operetta.

If you want to know "how not to become a castrato," (be born anywhere else than Italy, for a start), or "how to write an overture," (wait for the night before the first performance of an opera to write it) this is the book for you. I must admit that despite a few stories I didn't know before, I found this book a crashing bore. 1986. (PG) Norwin Hills: 7:30, 9:45. Showcase East, West, North: 1, 7:30, 9:40.

Southland: 7:30, 10. Village: 7:10. 9:20. BUHL 8CIENCE CENTER Sky Show: "The Violent Universe" 2, 7. Laserium: "Lasertrax" 8.9:15.

Times tor other movies can be found In the theater edvertisements. On stage 80UTH PACIFIC Comtra Cultural Center, Cranberry. Tonight at 8. STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW Tonl-dale Dinner Theater, Oakdale. Tonight at 8.

BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS Pittsburgh Playhouse, Rockwell Theater. Tonight at 8. BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS Hilarious version of Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical play about growing up in Brooklyn. With Blythe Oanner. (PG-13) Cinemette East: 9:45.

Denis: 7:50. 9:50. Showcase West, North: 2, 8, 10. Southland: 8. 10.

Squirrel Hill: 7:30. 9:45. COLOR OF MONEY Sequel to "The Hustler" starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise. (R) Whitehall: 7:30, 9:40. THE COLOR PURPLE Steven Speilberg's poignant drama about a Southern black family.

With Whoopi Goldberg. (PQ-13) Cinema World: 8. Galaxy: 7:15, 9:30. CRIMES OF THE HEART Jessica Lange. Sissy Spacek and Diane Keaton star in this drama about three Southern sisters.

(PG-13) Cheswick Quad: 7:50, 9:55. Cinemette East: 8, 10. Showcase West, North: 1, 7:35, 9:35. Southland: 7:25, 9:50. Squirrel Hill: 7:45, 10.

Village: 7:30, 9:30. CnOCODILE DUNDEE Comedy from Australia starring Paul Hogan. (PG-13) Bellevue, Hampton, Cinema World: 7:40, 9:40. Bethel: 7:35, 9:30. Cinema Wexford, Crest, Penn Hills: 7:30.

9:30. Eastland: 7:45. 9:45. McKnight: 8, 10. Oaks, Regent Square: 7:45.

South Hills: 7, 9. West Hills: 7:25, 9:25. Whitehall: 7:35, 9:30. DECLINE OF AMERICAN EMPIRE Canadian history professors talk about sex. (R) West Hills: 7:40, 9:35.

THE GOLDEN CHILD Eddie Murphy Is chosen to rescue a child with magical powers in this comedy. (PG-13) Rainbow: 7:45, 9:45. Showcase East, West, North: 1:30, 7:30, 9:30. Southland: 7:30. 9:40.

Village: 7:50, 9:50. HEARTBREAK RIDGE Clint Eastwood is a Marine sergeant hearing retirement but ready for one more battle. (R) Bellevue, Hampton: 7:15, 9:30. Bethel, Plaza: 7:30, 9:45. Cinema World: 7:30, 9:50.

Hollywood: 7, 9:30. Parkway: 8. Showcase West: 1:45, 7:15, 9:35. THE HUSTLER Wonderful ensemble acting performances In this film about a pool player-hustler. Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, George C.

Scott. Pittsburgh Playhouse: 7:30, 9:50. LITTLE 8H0P OF HORRORS Film version of the Broadway musical about a man-eating plant from outer space. (PG-13) Cinemette East: 7:45, 9:30. Denis: 6:05.

Harmar: 8, 9:55. Rainbow: 7:30. 9:30. Showcase West, North: 1:45. 7:45, 9:55.

Southland: 7:45, 9:45. THE MISSION Jeremy Irons is a Jesuit trying to help South American Indians in this sweeping period epic. With Robert DeNiro. (PG) Showcase East, North: 1:45, 7:15, 9:45. Squirrel Hill: 7, 9:30.

THE MORNING AFTER Jane Fonda is an aging actress embroiled In murder in this romantic thriller. With Jeff Bridges. (R) Denis, McKnight: 7:45, 9:45. Harmar: 7:40, 9:55. Manor: 8, 10.

Norwln Hills: 7:50, 9:50. Showcase East: 1, 7:40, 9:50. Showcase West: 1, 7:20. 9:20. Southland: 7:45, 10.

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