If you see this title in
a catalogue, issue list or even when browsing, you would probably pass
it by. You shouldn't. The front gives only the title and a picture of
the singer, while the track listing on the back of the jewel case wouldn't
exactly grab you; it's not quite French and certainly not Flemish or
German. In fact, like the songs, it is Walloon, the largely lapsed language
of Southern Belgium and adjacent France. Only those knowing the singer
might be tempted; others would lose out for this is a really delightful
disc.
Jules Bastin took
the song prize at the Royal Conservatory Brussels in 1958 and the opera
prize the following year. In 1960, he joined 'La Monnaie' and by the
early 1970s had established an international reputation. He was chosen
by Colin Davis to appear in his groundbreaking cycle of Berlioz operas,
especially as Mephisto in La Damnation de Faust. He made debuts
at the Paris Opera in 1975 and in 1976 at La Scala, The Met., Covent
Garden (Ochs) and Saltzburg under Karajan. On opera recordings Bastin
is generally found as the second bass; Leone to Raimondi's Attila,
the first Nazareen to his compatriot José van Dam's two recordings
of Jokanaan (Salomé). However, he is an appealing Alfonso
on Erato's Cosi Fan Tutte that features Kiri Te Kanawa's outstanding
Fiordiligi and Frederica von Stade's Dorabella (4509 98494, 3 discs,
mid-price). He is also to be heard as Bartolo on Karajan's second recording
of Marriage of Figaro.
This disc, derived from
sessions in 1971 and 1977, is a homage to Bastin's parents and Walloon
heritage. Its varied contents include seven Christmas items, airs and
songs from France, Germany and Ireland. Track 1, an arrangement of the
carol Holy Night, to the music of Adam, sets the standard of
the disc. Bastin's lean bass, is sonorous without being lugubrious.
He sings in perfect pitch, with good diction and is able to lighten
his tone without loss of expression or colour. Given Bastin's natural
eloquence of phrasing and good breath control, my ear and sensibilities
were well satisfied and I have enjoyed the disc several times since
my first hearing. Thoroughly recommended and at a very modest price.
The recording is slightly
resonant with the voice set in an airy unconstricted acoustic. The accompanying
choir is sometimes caught rather harshly.
The brief notes and biography
are in French only.
Robert J Farr
NOTE •
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François Prume choir,
dir. Raymond Micha (also piano) 
