April 13, 1999

World of choral music is still recovering from shock of death in January of Robert Shaw, a founder, a mentor, a leader, father figure and, in words of Kurt Masur, a kind of 'musical priest'; although there are promising candidates to pick up some of those roles, there is no obvious heir to assume them all; photos of Shaw and several other choral conductors: Charles Bruffy, Dennis Keene and Robert Porco (M)

Chinese Complaints Aides to Prime Minister Zhu Rongji are voicing frustration at President Clinton's perceived unwillingness to take risks. News analysis, page A14. Testimony in Spy Case An Energy Department intelligence official said his superiors played down evidence that China had stolen nuclear secrets. Page A14.

Government may not allow General Dynamics Corp's takeover of Newport News Shipbuilding Inc; Sen John W Warner, chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee, says it is 'less likely' that deal will be approved; Warner has criticized deal, which would put 80 percent of Navy's shipbuilding capacity in merged company; Warner's words are taken seriously, although Pentagon spokesman insists final decision has not been made; in Virginia, home state of Newport News, members of Congressional delegation have lined up against takeover (M)

As Congress went back to work yesterday, Republicans and Democrats jostled for control of the political agenda. House Democrats prepared an offensive against the House Republican leadership intended to force a vote to overhaul campaign finance laws. At the same time, House Republicans contemplated embracing an issue traditionally championed by Democrats: an increase in the minimum wage.

Article discusses tenant-landlord battle at Waterside Plaza, rental apartment complex that rises from concrete shelf in East River; last month, complex's developer Richard Ravitch informed tenants that he wanted to withdraw complex from Mitchell-Lama program, alarming residents who feared that they might be priced out of complex; photo (M)