Music Reviews

Oct 25, 2004 - Kuchar and his Reno Chamber Orchestra dig beyond the obvious for superlative Mozart

By Jack Neal

Theodore Kuchar takes the art of conducting and interpreting the music of others to new heights. It doesn't make any difference what's programmed - although it does - the Reno Chamber Orchestra under Kuchar's leadership is going to serve up one fabulously flavored dish of music after another.

Saturday's (10/23/04) all Mozart concert is yet another case in point. And who can quibble over Mozart? The singing of Madame Florence Foster Jenkins being a notable exception, Mozart is almost indestructible. Never fear. Kuchar freshened up even his Mozart on this occasion for a curious and delightful view of Mozart not often on the bill at most of the world's leading concert halls.

Mozart's Six German Dances, K. 509, opened Saturday's sold out Nightingale Hall concert. Mozart's Serenade No. 9 in D Major, K. 320 "Posthorn" closed and Mozart's enchanting Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K. 488, was tucked radiantly in the middle. The concerto was not unexpected. Everything else was, and it was all wonderful.

Pianist Margarita Shevchenko replaced Fabio Bidini, who was to have played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21. Bidini was called to Europe on a family emergency. As unfortunate as it is not to have heard Bidini's masterful playing, it was fortunate indeed to have such a gifted artist fill in. Shevchenko, a most articulate and virtuoso pianist, keeps the divine Mozart in his lofty confines of refinement while breathing flesh-and-blood passion into every note, nuance, and phrase for a reading that was lyric, intimate and moving.

And there was more. Shevchenko, a native of Russia who now lives in the U.S., brought a certain risk-taking to the Mozart, Mozart would have loved. Like Shakespeare, Mozart moved between a world of refinement and a world of the raucous. Mozart should not be approached with kid gloves. Shevchenko did not and that's what made her work here so electrifying.

Nor did Kuchar and the orchestra play with kid gloves. If Eliza Doolittle "could have danced all night," the strong willed and superbly musical Kuchar and company did, in fact, dance with vigor all evening long.

The Six German Dances were bawdy and lilting. Surely George Balanchine must have choreographed these vibrant dances for his New York City Ballet. Likewise the robust and lovely "Posthorn" Serenade is infinitely danceable. The grand sweep of the dances and the serenade had the exuberance of a beautifully filmed and danced Strauss waltz. The grand lines of these choice pieces flowed without interruption, but were nonetheless enhanced by countless adroit touches - a lusty sforzando here and a sly slur there - that simply added delight to delight.

Kuchar's infectious personality has unleashed the orchestra's once conservative bent. No longer are there any restraints on letting it all out. Violinist Phillip Ruder, oboist Andrea Lenz, flutist Mary Miller and trumpeter Paul Lenz all sailed through moments in the spotlight with enviable musicality and virtuosity.

Kuchar is ambitious and it shows in the exhilaration of his orchestra, which makes for very special listening. The conductor has also initiated the Nevada Chamber Music Festival under the sponsorship of the Reno Chamber Orchestra. The inaugural season of this chamber music series will take place December 28-31, 2004, at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church in South Reno and will include a host of leading international musicians.

The next Reno Chamber Orchestra concert will be January 15, 2005, and will feature Angel Romero as guest conductor and guest guitarist. All Reno Chamber Orchestra subscription concerts are played at Nightingale Concert Hall, 900 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. For information about Reno Chamber Orchestra concerts and events call 775-348-9413