Music and Dance Reviews : Chamber Virtuosi Series’ Final Concert of Season

Henri Temianka’s California Chamber Virtuosi series at Pepperdine University, Malibu, ended its latest season Saturday night with adept musicianship and programming. The concert offered three substantial French pieces from the late Romantic era in celebration of the bicentennial of the French Revolution.

Surrounded by the red, white and blue flags of both the United States and France, Temianka announced the program from the stage, giving lengthy descriptions of Paris and the close circle of composers there. His sweeping opinions sometimes startled. Less often, spurious information tended to detract from Temianka’s charm, which otherwise helped to hold the audience’s interest.

Violinist Sergiu Schwartz and pianist Steven Gayer highlighted the evening with a mesmerizing performance of Cesar Franck’s Violin Sonata. Phrases were carefully wrought and delivered with delicacy and warmth.

In Franck’s Piano Quintet, Michael Markman, violin; Donald McInnes, viola, and Timothy Landauer, cello, joined Schwartz and Mayer in a deft performance that romped fittingly. An equally fine performance of Debussy’s Violin Sonata completed the program.