MUSIC REVIEWS : MEXICAN SYMPHONY

Two laudable purposes are fulfilled by the Mexican Arts Chamber Symphony, which for the past two years has been formed at UCLA around Cinco de Mayo festivities.

First, the orchestra gives sympathetic attention to perhaps unjustly neglected repertory by Spanish, Mexican and Hispanic composers. Second, it gives UCLA music students an opportunity to play alongside the professionals.

Under the direction of Abraham Chavez Friday at Schoenberg Halls, the 48-member ensemble assayed three relatively unfamiliar works: Rodolfo Halffter’s piquant “Don Lindo de Almeria: Suite de Ballet”; Manuel Enriquez’ neo-Romantic Violin Concerto No. 1, with the composer as soloist, and Blas Galindo Dimas’ austere, formal Second Piano Concerto, with Johana Harris-Heggie as an authoritative soloist. Dimas was in the largely Hispanic audience.

However useful an educational experience this was for the students, there was no sense pretending that the ad hoc mix of experienced and pre-professional musicians could do much justice to such challenging music. Interpretations at best were workman-like and in Silvestre Revueltas’ “Sensemaya” dispiritingly pedestrian.