José Carreras appeared Sunday evening at the State Theater in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The occasion was a benefit recital for the Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. The evening began with a glowing introduction by Dominic Ursino, the association's president. Then to enthusiastic applause and a standing ovation, out came Mr. Carreras. He looked in good health -- despite the recent problems with what is reported to be sciatica -- smiling, relaxed and rested. The next question was -- how would he sound?

The evening's program consisted of sixteen songs -- French, Italian and Spanish -- a format he has come to favor over the years. He was accompanied by his long time accompanist, the excellent Italian pianist Lorenzo Bavaj.

Prior to Sunday night, the last time I had heard Carreras sing was this summer in Verona. That experience, combined with the report that he had just canceled his scheduled October appearance in Zurich, reportedly due to the problems he has recently been having with sciatica, had left me with serious concerns about the effect this would have on his performance. By the time I sat down in my seat at the State Theater -- I had stage fright!

The first song in the program was both a surprise and a delight. I was expecting Scarlatti's Gia il sole dal Gange, instead Carreras opened with Lu Cardillo by Mercadante. This was followed by Bellini's Fenestra che lucive. By the time he reached the third song, Vieni sul mar by the ever popular Anonymous, my stage fright had gone. Carreras was clearly in great form. His middle voice was his best. However, we were treated to one or two of those exquisite Carreras pianissimos which always send chills up my spine. His phrasing was perfect. Each song was a miniature gem.

The State Theater is an intimate theater which appears to have started life out as a movie house. Surprisingly, for such a venue, it has excellent acoustics. The audience was an interesting mix of Cerebral Palsy Foundation donors, casual concert-goers and, as always on these occasions, the familiar faces of long-time Carreras fans. The program was just perfect for the venue and the audience.

Three of the songs, La luna nuova by Costa, Malinconia d'amore by D'Anzi and Mentia al avviso by Puccini, were new to me. Malinconia had a poignant quality that obviously touched many in the audience. Carreras delivered this perfectly -- hitting just the right plangent note. The remaining songs on the program, however, were old favorites by Tosti, Ginastera, Nacho, Leoncavallo and Puccini.

The audience applauded enthusiastically after each song and the evening ended -- as it began -- with a standing ovation. It also ended with Carreras walking off stage several times with his arms full of flowers. The only disappointing note was that Carreras sang just two encores -- Musica Proibita and With a Song in My Heart.