MUSIC REVIEWS : St. Martin Ensemble Sparkles at Caltech

The presentation in Beckman Auditorium at Caltech on Sunday afternoon by the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble mirrored the weather outside: warm, sunny, sparkling clear. There was also deep concentration from the players, not a common occurrence in such weather and in view of their doggedly chipper program, which was enthusiastically received by a more than usually large and responsive Coleman Concerts audience.

Mozart’s Divertimento in F, K. 138, delivered with flawless balances by a string quintet led by violinist Kenneth Sillito, opened the proceedings blithely, paving the way for a cute curiosity, an arrangement by one Franz Hasenorl of Richard Strauss’ sardonic “Till Eulenspiegel.”

The reworking represents a reduction both in forces, from Strauss’ mammoth late-Romantic orchestra to a quintet of violin, double-bass, clarinet, bassoon and horn, and in the dramatic action of the tone poem, to about half its original 15 minutes.

In the process, a good deal of wit has been lost while providing the performers with a virtuoso romp. And romp the players did, with snap and precision, notably via Sillito’s silken, insinuating violin, Andrew Marriner’s sly clarinet, and Timothy Brown’s clarion horn.

To keep Schubert’s familiar Octet, the afternoon’s major offering, from remaining just this side of interminable, it must be delivered cleanly, affectionately, energetically. Dawdling over its already languorous lyricism can be fatal.

The Academy players filled the bill, with not a jaded moment within earshot and even some welcome doses of agitation.

Sillito here shared leadership with Marriner, the latter pouring out streams of soulful warmth, with prime solo work as well from the suave cellist, Stephen Orton.