‘Carnival’ at SPAC Fails To Equal Expectations

by Marilyn Nason, The Post-Star, August 7, 1972

Saturday night’s “first” at SPAC should hopefully be a “last.”

The much-touted “Carnival of Marriage” with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Andre Kostelanetz, Hermione Gingold and verses by Ogden Nash should have been a rousing success. With all those ingredients, it had everything going for it.

But the whole thing fell apart from the start. The Strauss, Dohnanyi, Saint-Saens, Satie and Mendelssohn-Liszt selections were pleasant enough, although the orchestra’s presentation was ragged and lackluster too much of the time.

Miss Gingold was either trying too hard or her false teeth were slipping, for her enunciation often was so slurred that punchlines were lost.

The occasional humor never quite made up for all the negatives. Miss Gingold appeared indifferent to her assignment, too, wearing an extremely casual white pantsuit, perched on a stool with her glasses on the tip of her nose. Neither the attire nor the pose seemed appropriate to a Saturday night at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, especially with the eighth annual SPAC benefit ball to follow the concert.

As for the remainder of the concert, it, too, can be termed only pleasant. Theodore Lettvin, pianist, performed Liszt’s “Hungarian Fantasia for Piano and Orchestra” and seemed at odds in tempo with the orchestra too often.

The opening work, Reznicek’s overture to “Donna Diana,” and closing number, Lehar’s suite from “The Count of Luxembourg,” were appropriate to the festive ball atmosphere, the latter especially kind to the ears with its familiar themes.

Norman Carol, concertmaster, was soloist in the Lehar work and this is always a welcome sound. His ability to create a beautiful, pure tone makes his rare solo work much anticipated.

The formal benefit ball followed the concert in the Hall of Springs. The attendance was way down from previous seven years. Even more significant, the “names” that have always made this the major social event of each August were conspicuous by their absence.

Nick Brignola and his orchestra played for dancing. The menu was simple breakfast fare, a welcome relief from the heavy, exotic dishes of past years.