In an evening where the playing started out with pristine perfection, but within the glacial confines of Baroque style - the Telemann, and continued through Winn's voluptuous concerto, then onto an encounter with Brahms, the excitement mounted in almost direct proportion to the increasing insecurity of the orchestra's playing.

Telemann's Suite in A minor for Flute and Strings, a dazzling piece for all concerned, was - however - wonderfully played. Dashing off the work's myriads of notes and split-second twists and turns with grace and a secure virtuosity, flutist Mary Miller was picture perfect in every way. The orchestra could not have been more accurate, nor conductor Vahe Khochayan more supportive. What's cool (as in both neat and frigid) about the Telemann is its rapid-fire delivery sans sensuality.

At Saturday's concert "sans sensuality" didn't last long.

Winn's Piano Concerto was commissioned for the RCO by Vera Stern in memory of her late husband, Sidney. When Winn the composer meets Winn the pianist it's pianistic love at every lustily lyric phrase, every stunning volley of notes and every plunge into the let-yourself-go gooeyness of out-and-out romanticism.

Winn's concerto out-Rachmaninoffs Rachmaninoff. It's his pictures of composers at a piano exhibition. The first movement promenades broad swatches of head-over-heels rapture a la Brahms. Everything is passion. Everything was tumultuously played.

The second movement promenades shimmering Wagnerian idyllic moments (Siegfried enchanted by the beauty of the forest), especially the lovely interplay between piano, solo violin (Phillip Ruder) and solo cello (Peter Lenz). The liquidity of Winn's technical facility and the gorgeous melodic exchanges between piano, violin and cello, makes the second movement a piano virtuoso's gem of a slow movement showpiece.

Then it's on to Grieg (or is it Tchaikovsky?) for a rush to the concerto's photo finish. The finale is no-holds barred writing that whips notes, tunes and coloration into a pandemic of romantic ebbs and flows. Winn's prowess as a technician is astonishing, as is his splendid and inventive musicality. It's his penchant for lots of notes, however, that makes the last movement of his concerto as much an athletic event as a musical one. That was the rub Saturday night and the beginning of the orchestra's slide into less than neat, clean playing; not everyone had the muscle to keep pace. The high diddle-diddle of the fiddles was full of whoosh, push and a too-large share of questionable pitches. It was all very cataclysmic, and - to its credit - exciting. I loved every wrenching moment.

The Brahms Concerto in A minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra with the daughter-father team of Ruth Lenz (violin) and John Lenz (cello) as soloists, concluded the concert.

In Reno, the Lenz-Lenz billing was a dream-team kind of thing. At 23, Miss Lenz is already a celebrated performer and this year's RCO College Concerto Contest winner. Years ago, Mr. Lenz opted out of the possibility of a career as a concert cellist or principal cellist with a major symphony orchestra, to live, teach and concertize in the Reno area. These two artists played well enough, but the Brahms "Double" is one of concertdom's most overrated works, and - with the "Double" - well enough, is never enough. A great performance requires rising well above the material to make something compelling out of the concerto's plodding sameness.

For this performance, whatever excitement there was came from the teaming, not from the work, nor the ensuing lethargy in the orchestra which led to a less-than-precise let's-get-through-this-thing reading.

Loyalty, however, prevailed.

It got a standing ovation.

Another standing ovation was in order. Conductor Vahe Khochayan's love for the orchestra as one of its founding members and its conductor for 25 years, must be credited for much of the orchestra's excellence and durability through the years. Maestro's musical sensitivity has been the inspiration for many of the orchestra's finest hours.

For information regarding The Reno Chamber Orchestra, its next season and other upcoming RCO events call 775 348 9413.