MUSIC REVIEWS : Mozart Camerata and Soloist Nicolai Popov at Santa Ana High

Under Ami Porat’s gentle yet commanding direction, the Mozart Camerata proved Saturday night that it is an orchestra of style, quality and distinction. Unfortunately, only a small audience was on hand in Santa Ana High School Auditorium to hear the inspired performance.

Rossini’s Overture to “La Cambiale di Matrimonio” featured horn player Steven Becknell in formidable technical form, with vivacious yet subtle support from the string section. Porat’s sensitive conducting kept the orchestra in delicate stride.

Not so, however, with soloist Nicolai Popov’s performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 14. The Bulgarian pianist never seemed comfortable with himself at the keyboard. From the start of the piece, he was too conscious of playing the correct notes instead of enveloping the musicality of the work.

Despite his approach, there were still many slips of memory and technique, and Popov’s uncontrolled playing glided challenging passages into his own tempos. An over-pedaled first movement gave way to a stiff and perfunctory reading of the second. Popov worked far too hard for a refined Mozart style. His nervousness became more apparent as he rushed headlong through the third movement.

The Camerata regrouped after intermission to perform Beethoven’s Second Symphony. Typically played by an ensemble of Romantic size, the work this time was played by a group of fewer than 40 of the Camerata members (24 strings and 12 winds). By this means, the ensemble captured the lightness of the piece without compromise to the sound of a large orchestra. The resultant transparency of texture was refreshing, the fullness usually associated with the piece enhanced by defined lines.

The final Allegro was unusually brisk and playful under Porat’s invigorating baton. One could also admire the technical playing of the ensemble, because there was no place to hide flaws in the reduced size of the group.