Soundtakes

CLASSICAL Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky: ``Swan Lake'' & ``Sleeping Beauty'' (suites). The Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti. (Angel digital DS-38117 [LP]; CDC-47075 [CD]) -- Another record of ``Swan Lake'' and ``Sleeping Beauty'' suites, you say? First off, the sound on this release is breathtaking. The new recording home for the Philadelphia -- Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park -- is the best venue yet for this celebrated ensemble. More interesting, it is one of the few times Riccardo Muti has relaxed his usual driven conducti ng style to allow him (and therefore the listener) a chance to revel in Tchaikovsky's melodic beauty and orchestrational opulence. There is a warmth, a dramatic sweep, and an expansiveness that put it among the best performances of this popular music on records. -- Thor Eckert Jr. JAZZ/POP/ROCK Jane Siberry: ``No Borders Here.'' (Duke Street/Open Air Records OA-0302) -- From Toronto comes a sparkling new artist, Jane Siberry, whose music blends pop tunefulness with sonic freshness. Rolling Stone has called her a ``garage-band Laurie Anderson,'' and while that may not do justice to the strength of her group's instrumentals, it does speak of her bold inventiveness. She's not afraid of throwing in an abrupt tempo change or a snippet of Philip Glass-like repetition. Siberry's voice is warm and candid, and her lyrics actually say something. Her breezy ``Extra Executive'' drolly describes a young longing-to-be-upwardly-mobile who looks ``over your shoulder at the party for a person who will change his life.'' ``The Waitress'' is a crisp song that makes one want both to laugh and cry for a woman so conditioned to clean up for others that she's not happy at a party u nless scooping up the debris. Fine LP, Jane Siberry. Can't wait to hear from you again. -- David Hugh Smith

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