Janos Gereben wrote: >A major offense in Scarola's direction (besides the failure to pull the >piece together) is what appears to be gross insensitivity to the music. >He insists on having the singers engage in "comic" shticks during their >arias and duets, provoking audience noise (laughter, applause) that >interferes with the music ... It is interesting to hear that because I was at the New York Phil's recent performance with Kristin Chenoweth, Paul Groves, Patti LuPone, and Thomas Allen (Marin Alsop conducting). I had the same reaction (sight gags and shticks sometimes in inappropriate spots and generally cheapening the show). However, in fairness, they walked the fine line between genuinely amusing and campy pretty well. It sounds as if this San Francisco production was either trying to take the NYPhil. concept to the next level or independently happened upon it. Incidentally, I have a good amount of respect for Marin Alsop but I have yet to be amazed by her Bernstein performances, especially the "Chichester Psalms" on Naxos. The interpretation is serviceable but only seems to highlight the "joie de vivre" (if I may) that Lenny's own seems to have had. Thoughts? Ben Malkevitch