The music of young composer Stuart Diamond was heard in a
recent and well-received concert at Carnegie Recital Hall. The major work of
the program was the world premiere of Succubus, a concerto for flute and tape,
with the solo part well played by flutist Andrew Bolotowsky, who was also
soloist in three other of the compositions performed.
Diamond's works are lush and romantic, with extensive use of
electronic sounds. In Succubus, the taped music suggested a sensuous Ravel
orchestration, a tone-poem .with a solo flute representing a dreamer and the
sound of an electronically distorted female voice depicting his erotic dream.
Similar in construction was Diana e Acteon, again for flute
and tape, but here the music' acted as background for a mime of the Greek
legend. And in Darling Poor Darling, it was electronic sound alone that
accompanied a solo dancer.
In sharp contrast to this basically cheerful music was
Diamond's Baroque Fantasy for violin solo, a wildly introspective work loosely
structured around baroque figurations, with Max Pollikoff as virtuoso soloist.
Also on the program were a set of short songs for alto flute
and guitar, and Jazz Trio, a witty and attractive work for flute, bassoon, and
piano. Other performers were Jane Adler, mime, Hedy Weiss, dancer, Joe
Karpenia, guitar, Michael McFrederick, piano, and Diamond on bassoon.
The Music of Stuart. Diamond, Carnegie Recital Hall —Charles
Slater
June 6, 1977
