In Three Acts . The group Gamelan Son Of Lion played the Harrison works, along with prominent harp and trumpet sections, brightly done by Nina Kellman and Terry Szor, respectively. Baritone William Sharp and soprano Jayne West joined the other soloists and chorus conducted by Craig Smith in a performance which deliberately understated the humor of the overall text, underscoring the wit of specific lines. Although the dancers were joyous, at the vociferous curtain calls the company nodded to the instrumentalists and singers, but they did not get their proper due, as they beautifully carried this opera cum pageant. The Nonesuch recording, I believe still the only complete version, features Betty Allen and Clamma Dale, and is indispensable, as is the RCA original recording of excerpts from the Broadway production of 1947.
Continuum continues to offer amazing single-composer concerts after more than two decades.
Very thick textures were never turgid under Cheryl Seltzer's hands, full of momentum. There was a percussion duet between the bass body and the piano lid. It ended softly with a teasing piano and clarinet. Even Hollywood doesn't achieve a mix like this. Kristina Reiko Cooper played the solo cello piece Siegfriedp' admirably, this piece of course in honor of the great Siegfried Palm.