32 — Wednesday, June 3, 1992 — North Shore News Schubert at the piano SCHUBERT: Der Hirt auf dem Felsen; 22 Lieder (EMI CD #CDC 7 54175 2) Nancy Argenta - soprano; Melvyn Tan - piano; Erich Hoeprich - Clarinet O THOSE who dream of the day when a time machine might whisk us back and forth between far gone eras this little CD is an absolute must. Even those of us who don’t have * such dreams can easily embrace the deceptively simple beauty in this collection of Schubert songs. Recorded last year at England’s superlative Abbey Road studios, this carefully planned and ex- cellently executed collection sounds as though a bootleggor has gate-crashed the salon of a local aristocrat with the latest in re- cording technology hidden in his britches. Indeed, if it weren’t for the slight reverb that creates the impression of a great hall, we could easily imagine ourselves in an even more intimate setting — particularly if you are one of the fortunate few who own a top-notch sound system. But engineering isn’t the only plus. Producer David R. Murray — having more than 600 Schubert songs to choose from — must have run naked through the streets shouting ‘‘Eureka! Eureka!’’ when he came up with the inspired idea of including songs that could be linked into thematic groups. What we end up with are 23 songs linked by the subjects to their texts. The recording opens with four songs praising the earth, six the air and three the water. These are followed by the four Mignon’s songs — settings of texts from Wolfgang Goethe’s novel Wilhelm Meister — which, written Songs stripped to essentials From page 23 Al Stewart — Live, Rhymes In Rooms, Mesa/Siue Moon/BMG 1992 Remember Year of the Cat, Nostradamus, Time Passages? There was a period in the mid- 1970s when Stewart was ubi- quitous. The folky cat was huge. Now he’s playing Richard’s on Richards on june 9. It’s a good chance to see a fine artist in a tiny venue. By Ross MacDonald Contributing Writer in 1815 and 1826, have been un- justly overshadowed by Hugo Wolf's more popular treatments of the same texts written some 73 years later. No recording of a Romantic would be complete, of course, without some reference or defer- ence to love, so we also get our mandatory ration of hertzinnig passion with five songs on that mania. We then finish up with the epic Shepherd on the Rock, who, no doubt, has experienced all of the other things. Initially, Murray’s plan works extremely well with its quiet yet dynamic mixture of divergent rhythms, colors and sounds. They alternate with enough entertainment value in the early parts.of the recording to hold your interest for quite some time. But this is where the only real weakness is the recording arises; once we get to the Wilhelm Meister group, the pace slows somewhat and interest begins to wane. With a total time of almost 74 minutes, you might be tempted, indeed desperate, to switch to something else, ANYTHING ELSE, about three-quarters of the way through. * It was during the final 20 This retrospective, recorded at locations including the Banana Hail in Osaka, Japan and McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California, simply confirms the talent. The songs, stripped down to detailed essentials and elegantly framed by the seemingly telepathic interplay of Stewart and Peter White on acoustic guitars, stand the test of time surprisingly well. PASPAROS TAVERNA GREEK FOOD AT ITS FINEST NOW OPEN LUNCH FROM: 11:00 A.M. MONDAY-FRIDAY SEAFOOD (Fresh) PASTA GREEK DISHES and Daily Speciais Outdoor PATIO SEATING DINNER - 7 DAYS A WEEK, 4 PM - WELL INTO THE NIGHT 432 WEST THIRD ST., NORTH VANCOUvER GBO-O3S39 minutes of such extended 19th century performances that a fot of cigars were dropped, brandy spilt and not-so-subtle snoring heard throughout the parlor. Melvyn Tan and Nancy Argenta, however, do such a magnificent job with their appointed tasks that you might feel like a bit of an ogre if you de bail out before the end. Vocals are a hard sell at the best of times and often deserve to be. But this recording is an absolute must for anyone who has ever professed to be a music lover of delicate palate. Just as with the chicken and egg conundrum, we might look for- ward to more recordings of this calibre if we bought them. Or perhaps if we buy this one, we'll be offered a lot more. a of On September 1st, Lower Mainland residents will start taking better care of the air, thanks to AirCare. AirCare is the first vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program in Canada, A 921-5161 3 mites noxth Boy Borsethee Crossed Mon. & Tues. and one of the most technologically advanced environmental programs of its kind in North America. It’s also part of the provincial government's initiatives to improve the air quality in the Lower Mainland. The program will cover the area from Lions Bay to Chilliwack, and will be operated from 12 specialty built and conveniently located AirCare Centres dedicated exclusively to emission inspections. Open 7 nights a week. Most passenger vehicles, motor homes and light trucks (5,000 GVW and under) — except electric powered vehicles or those with vintage or collector plates — are included in the program. You must pass the inspection before you can renew your licence and insurance. The inspection costs $15.00. A key aspect of the inspection is to make sure that all emission control components installed at the factory have not been removed, damaged or tampered with. Before you buy a used vehicle, be sure that the emission control system is in good working order. If you're not sure what to look for, ask a qualified service technician, FOR INFORMATION, PHONE 433-5633 IN CHILLIWACK, CALL 795-4546 Vehicle Emissions Inspection & Maintenance Program Peevinee of British Cotumbis try of Atiomey Generil Motor Vehicle Brinch