MUSIC REVIEWS : Orange County Chamber Orchestra Plays Orange

Even by chamber orchestra standards, the Orange County Chamber Orchestra is small. The group’s size may be a reflection of the budget limits of a young ensemble, of the tastes of its young conductor or of the dimensions of the stage at St. Joseph Center in Orange, where very little space remained after the 28 musicians took their places Sunday.

Whatever the reason, the agenda that conductor Micah Levy selected for the afternoon program demanded a great deal of accountability from each participant.

Stravinsky’s “Pulcinella” Suite demands extended solo work from quite a few players. Each one--from violinist Diana Halprin and cellist Tina Soule to bassist Margaret Storer and trombonist Loren Marsteller--played with accomplished poise.

The work also demands an alert, rhythmically secure, energetic ensemble, which is exactly what Levy has put together. Though he chose rather slow tempos in two of the movements, he achieved a particularly high-spirited and, save for a few excusable clinkers from the brass, accurate reading.

Levy’s troops found themselves equally exposed in Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.” His 17 musicians played with passion and poignancy and created remarkable dramatic contrasts.

The sensitively rendered solos of concertmaster Halprin and violist Raymond Tischer added considerable warmth.

Before intermission, pianist Peter Vinograde gave a stylish account of Mozart’s Concerto in B-flat, K. 595. Eliciting a light, elegant tone from a Steinway, he brought wit and charm to the composer’s final piano concerto but did not probe or ponder.

The Larghetto, for instance, though lyrical and soothing, remained cool and earthbound. Still, one could not help being caught up in the good-natured verve and buoyancy of the finale.

The orchestra provided well-balanced but not always rhythmic accompaniment.

Vinograde preceded the concerto--and opened the program--with Bach’s Toccata in E minor, BWV 914. Although some passages emerged unclear, he did give a very respectable account of the work, bringing out important melodic lines and maintaining a continuing sense of momentum.