MUSIC AND DANCE REVIEWS : FESTIVAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO KREISLER

Fritz Kreisler still lives in the memory of violinists even if they never heard him in life, and it was a fairly large group of enlightened listeners who attended a tribute to Kreisler on Friday at the second installment of the Chamber Music/L.A. Festival in Smothers Theater, Pepperdine University.

For the main part, the event was a recital by Paul Rosenthal, who devoted himself to a choice selection of short pieces by the violinist/composer that are as charming as ever. For extra value, the program included Kreisler’s seldom-heard String Quartet in A minor.

It takes courage--and maybe a bit of cheek--to devote an entire violin recital to pieces by a composer whom the world loves even if it cannot necessarily recall his name. Rosenthal brought them off with a distinct flair.

Since Kreisler recordings still exist, Rosenthal did not make the mistake of slavish imitation. Rather, he let Kreisler’s playing serve as a guide for his own concept of the music. He succeeded very well. He had the clean technique for the typical Kreisler embroidery, a tone of warmth and delicate nuances and discrete reflections of Kreisler’s inimitable rhythmic bounce.

Rosenthal played at least closely enough to the typical Kreisler manner in the Concerto in C major that Kreisler developed in the style of Vivaldi, and he invoked enough charm in the “little” pieces.

Naturally, not all the favorite pieces could be included--”Caprice Viennois” was conspicuous by its absence--but there were still “Liebesleid,” “Shoen Rosmarin,” “Tambourin Chinois” and the Rondino on a Theme by Beethoven, to remind what choice gems these pieces really are.

Throughout, Rosenthal was immeasurably assisted by the finely tempered piano accompaniments provided by Doris Stevenson.

An ensemble enlisting Rosenthal and Koichiro Harada, violins; Marcus Thompson, viola, and Jeffrey Solow, cello, discovered the mellowness of Kreisler’s 1919 Quartet. It has not quite the natural charm of the short violin solos, but it is still a warm and entertaining essay that deserves more attention than it nowadays receives.