THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070348
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK MOBLEY, MUSIC CRITIC
DATELINE: 940607 LENGTH: Medium
It was supposed to be a showcase of local chamber-music groups, but inferior playing and a lack of air conditioning made the evening seem extremely long.
{REST} The area's best small ensemble, Apollo, acquitted itself well. This ensemble of leading Virginia Symphony members started the program with Ravel's Introduction and Allegro for harp, woodwinds and strings. Phrasing was persuasive, and guest cellist Christopher Costanza was a welcome addition.
But quality dropped off rapidly and stayed down. The Williamsburg early-music ensemble Capriole was represented by director and harpsichordist Gayle Johnson. As she accompanied sprightly Baroque dancer Paige Whitley-Bauguess, the heat got to her instrument. It started to sound like chewing tin foil feels.
The Feldman Chamber Music Society and the Tidewater Classic Guitar Society were at a disadvantage, as their primary function is presenting touring groups.
The Feldman fielded the unlikely trio of Symphony concertmaster Vahn Armstrong, principal cellist Janet Kriner and pianist Lee Jordan-Anders of Virginia Wesleyan College. In the Ravel A Minor, neither Kriner nor Jordan-Anders could match Armstrong's commanding expressivity. Sam Dorsey and WHRO-FM announcer (and Virginian-Pilot record reviewer) Terry Joy played duets for the guitar society.
To close the program, The Norfolk Chamber Consort performed Schubert's ``Shepherd on the Rock'' for soprano, clarinet and piano and the ``Consort Piece'' of local composer Adolphus Hailstork. Clarinetist F. Gerard Errante was out of tune in the Schubert. Hailstork's bouncy, blandly scored little piece sounded no more substantial than it did at its April premiere.
by CNB