Music Reviews

Jan 22, 2007 - The Reno Chamber Orchestra's perfect program

By By Jack Neal

The unusually unadorned beauty of the Renaissance, the dark modern foreboding of the Cold War, and the warmth and humanity of Romanticism came triumphantly together at Saturday night's Reno Chamber Orchestra concert for another of the orchestra's finely honed evenings of music making.

Conductor Theodore Kuchar's penchant for inventive interpretation mixed with the maestro's sense of fun and interest in politics became reflectors revealing the souls of each of the program's works. Cellist Alexander Ivashkin's power-house excursion into the inner workings of Shostakovich's blunt and to-the-point Cello Concert No. 2 provided a gripping, emotion-packed reading.

Legrenzi's Sonata in E minor, which immediately preceded the Shostakovich, is a gem of serenity; a soothing prelude to the brittle, harsh commentary to come. The buoyancy and vigor of Beethoven's Symphony No. 8, which closed the concert, when it's refreshingly, impeccably brought off – which it was – is the ode to joy, if you will, for ending a concert on an exhilarating note.

The Shostakovich is a stretch for the orchestra, which nonetheless managed its complexities without a hitch. Ivashkin's exceptional artistry - a flawless facility and a riveting theatrical presentation - sailed through the concerto with enormous musicality and authority. It's no mean feat delivering one of the most challenging cello concertos in the repertory, but Ivashkin knows what he's up to and his performance was stunningly affecting. Equally as noteworthy, Kuchar drew a beautifully disciplined performance from the orchestra.

Disciplined also was the alive, exceptional presentation of the Beethoven. Almost sassy, even flamboyant, this sprightly symphony is joyous from beginning to end. The interpretive mood was all fun and games with a spit-and-polish dash through the glitter and light for a soufflé of a presentation. Kuchar and the orchestra's Beethoven was an entertaining, high-powered romp with a high lighthearted humor that did nothing to dampen the nobility of this superb work of art.

The program had variety and range and was totally devoid of affectation. One cannot ask for more.

All Reno Chamber Orchestra subscription concerts are played at Nightingale Concert Hall on the University of Nevada, Reno campus, 900 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. The season continues March 10 and 11 (2007) with William Barton as didgeridoo soloist in a world premiere of Warren's Didgeridoo Concerto, the American Premiere of Sculthorpe's "From Ubirr," and Schubert's Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished." For information about Reno Chamber Orchestra events and tickets call 775-348-9414 or go online at www.RenoChamberOrchestra.org.