Poulenc: Les mamelles de Tirésias / Le Bal masqué

Set to a text by Guillaume Apollinaire that combines nonsensical images with some serious underlying thoughts, Les mamelles de Tirésias is a 52-minute, two-act operatic romp and makes a fascinating contrast to Poulenc's more familiar La voix humaine. With his usual pert lyricism and cabaret-like rhythmic underpinnings, the composer keeps his listeners thoroughly entertained. Along with Apollinaire, Max Jacobs was a leader of the Dada movement, and some of his rather illogical poems were delightfully set as a cantata for baritone and small instrumental ensemble as Le bal masqué. Wolfgang Holzmair sings effectively, as does the entire cast for Les mamelles. The orchestra plays with great proficiency, and the international cast sings well. If the opera performance lacks the charm of the early-1950s Angel recording by André Cluytens, there is no use crying over spilt milk. The new version is far better recorded and is the only one currently available. --Paul Turok