Search - Piston, Blitzstein, Hill :: American Masters 2

Historically fascinating, if musically lacking

Ahmed E. Ismail | Cambridge, MA United States | 08/09/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD may not contain musical masterpieces, but as a recording it is of enormous musical interest, particularly because of its casting in the central work, Blitzstein's Airborne Symphony.People who have seen the movie "Cradle Will Rock" know that Orson Welles had worked with Blitzstein many years previous on the latter's anti-fascist musical. Thus, his appearance as narrator of Blitzstein's Airborne Symphony many years later does not appear to be so much of a surprise.Welles's performance is histrionic at times, to be sure, yet it's not entirely inappropriate to the spirit of the music, which is intentionally bombastic. The music is decidedly uneven, with the final sections, starting with the "Ballad of the Bombadier," being the most enjoyable. Welles's grave, then manic, shouts of "Warning!" in the work's final bars have to be heard to be believed--you'll either come away terrified or laughing, depending on your temperament.The other works are more or less fillers to the main work--competently performed and recorded, but nothing particularly exciting. All in all, though, this disc is of interest to afficionados of American music, and all those eager to learn more about one of the more unusual artistic collaborations of the twentieth century."