Music Reviews : Archwood Ensemble in List-Glenn Series

The distinct bonus that a sextet can offer its audience is inevitably unhackneyed fare. After all, there aren’t many practicing chamber groups of this number.

So, when the Archwood Ensemble joined with pianist Paul van Ness on Thursday to present the first of a six-concert series sponsored by the List-Glenn Institute at Cal State L.A., it was already ahead of the game. As things turned out, the best playing of the evening involved those works for all or most of the members--clarinetist Gary Bovyer, violinists Michelle Bovyer and Claudia Parducci, violist Meredith Snow and cellist Christine Soule.

Prokofiev’s “Overture on Hebrew Themes,” which opened the program at the campus Music Hall, asks for the alternately playful and mysterious character brought out by the six players. Full-bodied and smooth strings soared vibrantly in an upward-winding line as they intermingled with the sinuous, snake-charming clarinet. A thoroughly delightful introduction.

And to close there was Copland’s Sextet, a study of perky syncopations straight out of “Rodeo” but in more sophisticated guise. It came across with all its innocent brio and long-lined melancholy intact. Even Mozart’s mini-piano concerto, the E-flat Chamber Concerto, K. 449, with Van Ness’ exuberant solo, was played with considerable style and finesse.

But Chopin’s G-minor Sonata put too great a burden on cellist Soule in its stormy movements, where she suffered intonation problems and difficulty sustaining the line, though the Largo showed her to be uncommonly sensitive. Throughout, pianist Van Ness played with unflagging authority.

Ives’ “Three-Page Sonata,” which allowed Institute director Van Ness a quirky detour away from tonal music, didn’t add to the cohesiveness of the program. But it did represent another welcome step away from standard fare.