COMPOSERS: Bretan
LABELS: Nimbus
WORKS: Golem; Arald
PERFORMER: Alexandru Agache, Tamás Daróczy, Sanda Sandru, Dan Zancu, Ionel Voineag; Moldova PO, Iasi/Cristian Mandeal
CATALOGUE NO: NI 5424 ADD
Nicolae Bretan (1887-1968) fell foul of the Romanian Communist regime, which banned the staging of his one-act opera of 1942, Arald. A patriotic rehabilitation produced this first recording (1987), alongside the earlier opera Golem. Musically Golem is a nullity: plodding, cliché-ridden. Arald more interestingly asserts an old ballad style, but repetition palls. Some characterful singing may be appreciated. Arthur Jacobs
Bretan: Golem; Arald
Nicolae Bretan (1887-1968) fell foul of the Romanian Communist regime, which banned the staging of his one-act opera of 1942, Arald. A patriotic rehabilitation produced this first recording (1987), alongside the earlier opera Golem. Musically Golem is a nullity: plodding, cliché-ridden. Arald more interestingly asserts an old ballad style, but repetition palls. Some characterful singing may be appreciated. Arthur Jacobs
