If you see this
title in a catalogue, issue list or even when browsing, you
would probably pass it by. You shouldn't. The front gives only
the title and a picture of the singer, while the track listing
on the back of the jewel case wouldn't exactly grab you; it's
not quite French and certainly not Flemish or German. In fact,
like the songs, it is Walloon, the largely lapsed language of
Southern Belgium and adjacent France. Only those knowing the
singer might be tempted; others would lose out for this is a
really delightful disc.
Jules Bastin
took the song prize at the Royal Conservatory Brussels in
1958 and the opera prize the following year. In 1960, he joined
'La Monnaie' and by the early 1970s had established an international
reputation. He was chosen by Colin Davis to appear in his groundbreaking
cycle of Berlioz operas, especially as Mephisto in La Damnation
de Faust. He made debuts at the Paris Opera in 1975 and
in 1976 at La Scala, The Met., Covent Garden (Ochs) and Saltzburg
under Karajan. On opera recordings Bastin is generally found
as the second bass; Leone to Raimondi's Attila, the first
Nazareen to his compatriot José van Dam's two recordings
of Jokanaan (Salomé). However, he is an appealing
Alfonso on Erato's Cosi Fan Tutte that features Kiri
Te Kanawa's outstanding Fiordiligi and Frederica von Stade's
Dorabella (4509 98494, 3 discs, mid-price). He is also to be
heard as Bartolo on Karajan's second recording of Marriage
of Figaro.
This disc, derived
from sessions in 1971 and 1977, is a homage to Bastin's parents
and Walloon heritage. Its varied contents include seven Christmas
items, airs and songs from France, Germany and Ireland. Track
1, an arrangement of the carol Holy Night, to the music
of Adam, sets the standard of the disc. Bastin's lean bass,
is sonorous without being lugubrious. He sings in perfect pitch,
with good diction and is able to lighten his tone without loss
of expression or colour. Given Bastin's natural eloquence of
phrasing and good breath control, my ear and sensibilities were
well satisfied and I have enjoyed the disc several times since
my first hearing. Thoroughly recommended and at a very modest
price.
The recording is
slightly resonant with the voice set in an airy unconstricted
acoustic. The accompanying choir is sometimes caught rather
harshly.
The brief notes
and biography are in French only.
Robert J Farr
François Prume
choir, dir. Raymond Micha (also piano) 