- THE MICHIGAN DAILY 'A rts & Enterta inmret Tuesday, January 13, 1976 Page Five ® Detroit Symphony flounders By DAVID BLOMQUIST Well, the Detroit Symphony is back to work. Big deal. You may recall that a bitter3 dispute between symphony man- agement and musicians over I pay scales forced the ensem- ble to cancel over two months! of the current season. But frankly, if the Detroit en- semble's performance Sunday afternoon in Hill Auditorium really represents the state of, symphonic art in the Motor City, the two months of enforc- ed silence may have been a blessing in disguise. Sunday's all-Beethoven con- cert, which was part of the Choral Union Series of the Uni-1 versity Musical Society, was the second chance I've had to hear the Detroit Symphony since their triumphant (?) re-'t turn to the concert stage last!1 November. I've been disap- pointed with their performance ' both times. The problem with the Detroit group doesn't 'seem so much to be a total lack of technical vir- tuosity (although there are more than a few weak sections),; but rather an apparent dearth I of performance discipline - anI unwillingness on the part of the; orchestra to move with theI conductor in anything but the barest essentials of tempo and' dynamics. Arts Briefs: Music Director Aldo Ceccato ing and expression in the pas-; - who received notice from toral largo second movement.j the symphony management last Indeed, it might have been a summer that his contract would truly memorable performance-' not be renewed after this sea- had the orchestra's contribution' son - attempted to inject some possessed more verve than a vigor Sunday into the orches- recording from Rick Wake- tra's performance of two Beet- man's mellotron. hoven staples: the Third Con- ' w certo for Piano and the EroicaEThe ensemble's work in the Symphony. But the ensemble Eroica Symphony was a bit seemed unwilling to follow his more credible. In fact, the phrasing or subtle dynamics. quick and light allergo molto I left Hill Auditorium con- finale were quite acceptable. , vinced that Sunday's concert Ceccato and the orchestra would have been no different if brought out the wide varieties almost any other director had of tone color in the allegro mol- been up on the podium. The to rather effectively, achieving Detroit performers were sim- a fine blend in the final varia- ply in no mood to follow - or, tion sequences. for that matter, to even look up But a myriad of difficulties; reaches down to the lowest reg- ular note of the violin - a register in which the Detroit's strings sounded a bit rough. All of this is really too bad, because Detroit deserves a good orchestra for the kind of investment that symphony con-1 tributors have made over the past decade and that the new union contract calls for during the next three years. But if Sunday's concert re- vealed any definitive morals, it emphasized just how important the selection of a new principal conductor will be. A director with the proper prestige and? intestinal fortitude might be able to wake up this unfortun- ately floundering ensemble. Interesting Sports Facts Ricky Bell of Southern Cali- fornia rushed for a total of 560 yards in his first three games this season. The 18 National Hockey League teams figure to travel a total of 833,015 air miles before the season ends on April 4, 1976. T h e Washington Redskins scored 28 points in seven min- utes in trimming the New York Giants 49-13 this season. George Scott of the Milwaukee B r e w e r s led 1975 American Leaguers in runs batted in with 109, three more than John May- berry of the Kansas City Royals from their desks at - their marred the opening two move- Such talent ,however, does not conductor. ments. Noticeably absent from come inexpensively, and these And thus, like far too many the familiar allegro con briof are tough financial times in De- Detroit Symphony concerts over was the light staccato touch troit. Yet with a cheap hack at the last five years, Sunday's that should decorate some of the helm, I'm afraid we can- performance was just incred- the heroic string passages. not look forward to much musi- ibly dull: an uninspired, blase Some balance problems ap- cal improvement in the sym- rendition of some of the most peared here and there through j phonic representative of Amer- common meat - and - potatoes the allegro con brio as well. ica's fifth largest city. compositions in the repertoire. The second movement, the Pianist Gina Bachauer pro- classic funeral march, exposed David Blomquist is Arts and vided welcome relief from the some color weaknesses in the 1nt(ertainmfentf Editor of The spiritless orchestral perform- strings. The principal "theme Daill). ance. She handled the C minor - concerto without a flaw, dis- playing thesort of crisp attacks the Detroit's pale accompani- X.RATE D PU PP ETS ment. I especially enjoyed Bacha- uer's exquisite sense of phras- not exactly, but it is adult puppetry Getting robbed Mary Lou Rosato of John Houseman's "The A eting Company" finds herself aloft during a scene from Uhry and Waldman's musical "The Robber Bridegroom", to be presented in POwer Center later this month. The New York-based company will be' in residence at the University for the next four weeks. Canadian Opera's Boheme:' SA11i Loveiy mus By JEFFREY SELBST I was all set to compare the Canadian Opera's production of La Boheme Saturday night at Power to a delicious Chinese dinner served in eclectically tasteless surroundings (which as far as I know describes the normal Chinese restaurant), un- til somebody pointed out how stupid that was. Well, how about this: The or- chestra and the singing was lovely, and musically the pro- ductiao was well-conceived and executed. The acting, staging, casting, and other trappings, well - shall I put it bluntly? - made mne sick.! Tho pens pany siste of b scre jecte pictir La G sible thos sult dak Expo Bu not out. tate they expe faith tPARIS (Reuter) - The Co- out Paris while workmen up. 7b amedie Francaise, France's bas- dated its home in a wing of an tion of classical theater, has 18th century royal palace in e set, however, was too ex- is uncomfortably aware of this. bowed to criticism by giving its the heart of the capital. The ive to believe that the com- Mimi is. forced to suffocate in actors a taste of freedom. company will return next Sep- lacked for money. It con- comfort, and that looks pretty The country's oldest theater tember to plush seats, air con- d of the merest suggestion silly, let me tell you. company, often attacked in the ditioning and sophisticated light- ohemian settings and three nast as an actor's prison, is ing. ens upon which were pro- The casting was atrocious. loosening the players' -bonds to d photographic slides de- Apparently the singers were the troupe. Their 20-year con- More Sports Facts I ng somebody's opinion of chosen on vocal ability alone; tracts will be halved and their Vie Parisienne. The impos- they looked physically nothing forays into films encouraged. George Scott of Milwaukee mix of technology and pa- like they ought, and not a one In fact, 1976 will be a revo- and Reggie Jackson of Oakland was unpalatable, the re- of them knows anything, any- !ltionary year for the national eage hm1975 A n e r i c a n looking rather like the Ko- thing at all, about acting. No, theater company founded by -points. pavilion in the Montreal let me take that back Musetta "Sun King" Louis XIV in 1680. ___nts._ D '67. was half an actress, she had The actors' will have new con- The Seattle Seahawks begin one or two good moments. But tracts and they will be moving play in the National Football t they cut the chorus. No, no one else, do you hear me? It back into their renovated head- League next year. cut back, mind you, cut was' performed with the elan: quarters after two years in the They could afford to imi- and flair of a fourth - grade wilderness. . Illinois football coach Bob 2001: A Space Odyssey but Thanksgiving pageant. The Comedie has been playing Blackman is in his 27th seasonI couldn't afford'a necessary E in different theatres through- Ias a head coach. nse in order to remain Mimi, lovely creature that ---------------- .--- "An outstandi ng event, beautiful and cbptivatisnq --Univ. of Nebraska "This is no kiddy show, this is elaborate adult theatre." -Jackson Daily News UAC., etc. proudly presents-- DAVID SYROTIAK'S NATIONAL MARIONETTE THEATRE THURS., JAN. 29 8 P.M. MENDELSSOHN A special children's show Wed., Jan. 28, 1 p.m. TICKETS: Adults--$2.50; Children-$1.25 Available at the Michigan Union, Jan. 15 For more info. call 763-1107 ful to Puccini's conception I'll put my strong objections into one well-considered but ill-tempered line: Some peo- ple are so intent on being avant-garde that they don't give a hang what happens to the art. and in some cases music? his actual' Now that I've cooled off a bit, I'l explain my objections. The first one is fiscal. The pro- duction looked shabby. All right, maybe they don't have any money. The romantic pic- ture of the struggling young op- era performers is too strong to rule them out on that point alone. But how about putting on an opera which doesn't demand a lavish production to sustain an audience's belief? Mozart and his farces and fantasies could yield to an impressionis- tic interpretation, and certainly Menotti requires no elaborate- ness to produce. This required the elimination of the delicate fabric in Act II, which consists of principall Isingers balanced against a chorits. It also required that M.a 3 Parpignol be changed from a toyseller to the keeper of a cafe. His part was changed from almost a walk-on role to a general factotum, the Greek chorus who existed to explain the story to an audience bewil- dered by the poorly-considered changes. The other glaring error was in making a unit set in the first' place. Once the indoors has been suggested in a unit, it is I difficult within the same set to 1 suggest anything. It requires imagination, which in turn ac- quires a fix, and that must be' worked within. she was, looked terrified of Ro- dolfo most of the time - I don't blame her, if I'd seen that com- ing at me in a dark alley I wouldn't have waited around for the second act-- as it is I almost didn't -- and that's a shame, because Rodolfo should be semi-convincingly young and, handsome. In Act IT, there is a contrast set up between Ro- dolf and Mimi at one table in the cafe, and Musetta and Al- cindoro at another. But Ro- dolfo looked as old and ugly as did Alcindoro. Something was missing there. Now we come down to the; question of blame. One of the chief culprits was set designer William Lord, but I think Her- man Geiger - Torel should bear most of it. He is the General Director, and I think he should be indicted, sentenced and shot, for gross artistic immaturity and a pathetically inappropriateI attempt to prove the company's chicness, betraying both a lack:R of taste and judgement. Jeffrey Selbst reviews drama and musice for The DAY. Q75 MUSKET MASS MEETING for ".HELLO DOLLY" WEDNESDAY, January 14, 1976 7:30 P.M. ANN ARBOR-Prepare yourself for the RETURN INVASION of P R C T R & BE RtGiMA N (Of the FIRESIGN THEATRE) PLUS *{n.* } ::ALSO A: . APPEARING: . Ann Arbor's Firesign own corhedy specialists Theatre The MovieProfessionals SUNDAY, JANUARY 18th & Monday, JANUARY 19th MATRIX THEATRE 603 E. William TWO SHOWS NIGHTLY AT 7 & 9:30 p.m. TICKETS $2.50 available in advance For further info: 994-0627 La Boheme is a Romantic op- ' u h otas ewe h era, depending upon contrasts waBut the contrasd the co t between poverty bravely borne which Mimi waits in Act III) and foolish wealth, youth andw i minas(ntatap old age; and the inevitably tra- is gone, and in case that ap- gic death of the beautiful hero-pears t be n le e ine by consumption, all of which, er ob i-iknltm incby onsmpton al ofwhihsay that an intelligent audience transpires within two hours. - That's pretty hard to take by itself, and so a literalness is required in everything else in' order that the compressed-time factor might not seem too in- TON congruous. film coperativ IGHT- h2 A 0 w HN 1 1 i 1 STUDY NIGHT Every Tuesday-7 p.m. Want a new place to study?, Comfortable Rooms FREE COFFEE at HILLEL- 1429 HILL ST. if you see THE TALL BLONDE MAN WITH ONE BLACK SHOE 1973 French Spy Farce. Zany. at 7:00 & 8:45, & 10:30 in AUD. A I LENI RIEFENSTAHL'S OLYMPIA (1938) Pt. Iat 7:15 only-Pt. Ilat 9:15 only AUD B in ANGELL HALL $1.25 single show-$2.00 double feature D.W. GRIFFITH'S 1919 BROKEN BLOSSOMS (AT 7) Lillian Gish and Richard Bafthelmess star in this poignant story of the love between a Chinese immigrant and an abused voung airl. A mosteroiece of early silent film. 2nd Floor, Michigan Union AUDITIONS- JANUARY 15-17, 1976 TICKETS NOW ON SALE $4.00 at:* Hill Auditorium Box Office The Blind Pig / and both Discoun } v Record stores Les McCann A* 't EA " ,;. ° _ x 1A "l *A Arby'S$adwich piled high withIender Roasted Beef Crispy Potatloes * Cole Slow Arbys announces a sole that'Il break your hamburger habit. Dinner for a dollar The three-course meal for one low price. One dinner. One dollar. One place. Arby's. OfpV4~',,lir4.All artyC.,n..,., Aff ar') PAA MA~Arox.J..., La..TI .i arert.