Glass: La Belle et la Bête / Glass: La Belle et la Bete

Glass transcends his usual soundtrack work this time by composing an opera dramatized by a film projected on a screen above the performers — the film in question being Jean Cocteau's La Belle et la Betê or Beauty and the Beast. This is truly a monumental accomplishment: music was composed and timed perfectly in sync with the action of the film and the artist toured major cities with this show. In live performance, the conductor conducts the piece with the film as metronome. The vocalists sing the dialogue spoken by the actors in this film, facing the screen while they do so — creating the effect of breathing the words into the mouths of the actors on screen. Music is provided by the Philip Glass Ensemble and other auxiliary players. The recording itself is comprised of one solid block of music, varying little in dynamics or intensity, featuring Glass' usual series of arpeggios — primarily synthesizer-driven. It is difficult to discern the voices of the characters from one another by listening to the recording only, and luckily the complete lyrics and translation are included with the recording. For those who have seen the spectacle of the live performance, the recording will be absolutely wonderful. On its own merits, the recording itself seems a little static — all musical dynamics occur in the only in chord changes. A deluxe booklet is included with the full libretto, an interview, and stills from the film. ~ Mark W. B. Allender, Rovi