Opera

The latest CD release reviewed

GOLIJOV: AINADAMAR
Atlanta SO / Robert Spano Deutsche Grammophon 477 6165 ***

Osvaldo Golijov's Lorca-inspired Ainadamar (Fountain of Tears), premiered at Tanglewood in 2003 and revised, with guidance from director Peter Sellars, for Santa Fe Opera last summer, has made it onto disc in double-quick time. The world is Golijov's oyster, musically-speaking. He likes to roam freely through a musical heritage he can trace around a number of continents. Ainadamar is set in Montevideo and presents Lorca through three "images" from the recollections of actress Margarita Xirgu, with a Spanish flavour that' achieved by using rhythmic backgrounds and chorus interjections rather in the manner of pop music. The work is more a display piece of the art of the arranger than the art of the composer, and much of it falls into a style of highly-sophisticated, ear-catching mood music. The performance under Robert Spano is first rate, and the principal roles fit Dawn Upshaw (Xirgu), Kelley O'Connor (Lorca, a trouser role) and Jessica Rivera (Nuria) like a glove. www.deutschegrammophon.com  Michael Dervan