Nick Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Let's set the record straight, folks.  Both the Slatkin Mahler 2nd and
>the Shaw Berlioz Requiem are on Telarc, a Cleveland company and still
>thankfully independent, not Teldec, a European label now owned by Time
>Warner.

Right, sorry!!!. Just another aspect of my wonderful memory for names.

>I'm glad you like the Berlioz (with both the Prologue to Boito's
><Mephistofele> and the Verdi Te Deum as fillers).

It's among the favorites of my disc collection (not only among my favorite
recordings of Berlioz).  This set was also my first contact with Boito's
"Mefistofele", and it impressed me much.

>The performances were with Jerome Hines, but he was ill that week and
>it was obvious a change had to be made for the recording.  The Atlanta
>Symphony management came up with this unknown young bass named John
>Cheek, who knew the role but had never performed it.  He arrived for
>the weekend recording sessions and won our hearts immediately.  The
>voice was deep and full (how could such a skinny guy sing so loud?!),
>and his performance was assured and authoritative.  I believe that was
>his first recording, and we had him back for many concerts after that.

That's amazing. Listening to him who could say that he was a sort of newcomer?

>We're doing John Adams's oratorio <El Nino> in two weeks.  I invite you
>to check out our website, www.adams-el-nino.org, and come to the concerts
>if possible.

Believe me, Nick, I wish I could do it..:-)

Pablo Massa
[log in to unmask]