BLUMENFELD: La Face Cendree; Ange de Flamme et de Glace; Carnet de Damne; Illuminations: Symphonic Fragments After Rimbaud
Christine Shcadeberg, s; Randall Gremillion, bar; Cincinnati Philharmonia/Gerhard Samuel
Centaur 2277 (Qualiton) 65 minutes

Harold Blumenfeld's fascination with French poety Arthur Rimbaud recently culminated in the opera Seasons in Hell (Music in Concert, M/J 1996). The present disc contains other espressions of this fascination. They are all well written, expressive, and listenable. Blumenfeld's considerable instrumental expertise is highlighted in the orchestral Illuminations, which are brilliantly conceived and executed. All of the performances are goood. Soprano Christine Schadeberg continues to claim a prominent position among performers of "advanced" contemporary music.

Stephen D Hicken

	Harold Blumenfeld http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~blumenf/
	Harold Blumenfeld's three operas, "Seasons in Hell", "Fourscore - an Opera of Opposites" and "Breakfast Waltzes" - all to libretti by collaborator Charles Kondek - are published, along with the composer's other works, by MMB Music Inc, 3526 Washington Ave., St. Louis MO 63103. FAX 314 531-8384. Blumenfeld is represented by Friedman/Goetz Associates, 11 Worth St, New York NY 10013, FAX 212 226-6788, e-mail FGASSOC@aol.com Materials may be secured from Friedman/Goetz, from MMB Music Inc, and may be consulted at the American Music Center, New York. All works © Copyright MMB Music, Inc.