Jacques Brel’s Real Work

In response to the review of “Jacques Brel Is Alive & Well & Living in Paris” (“An Uneven Evening With ‘Jacques Brel,’ ” April 29), it is unfair to judge Brel’s masterful and creative songs by these “sappy” translations filtered through the ‘60s. It is not this dated, silly show that has been “exalted” in the last 30 years but Brel’s extraordinary body of work in French.

Eric Blau and Mort Shuman translated and strung together several songs to make a popular show that is now all that America knows of Brel. Certainly the trivialization of his expressive songs in this show is not his fault, even though he did give his permission. In fact, Brel’s widow will no longer give anyone permission to translate his songs.

In France, books of literary criticism analyzing his poetry and university courses in the understanding and meaning of Brel’s work support that his songs aren’t just music hall tunes for the masses.

Sure, he sang humorously about waiting in vain night after night for “Madeleine.” But, more important, he wrote profoundly of war, loneliness, desperation, family, growing old, death and of himself dying in the face of cancer. People should do themselves a favor and listen to the real Brel.

CHERIE MAGNUS

Los Angeles