MUSIC REVIEWS : New Season, New Work

The unusual idea that drives and defines Pacific Serenades, which opened its ninth season over the weekend, is to present the premiere of a new work by a locally based composer, usually commissioned for or by the group, on each of its concerts.

So Sunday afternoon at the Biltmore Hotel’s Emerald Room was interesting business as usual, with the sort-of premiere (it had been played the night before in a private home) of Michael Kibbe’s Piano Quartet in C minor, “From a Romantic’s Diary.”

Yes, it’s in C minor, though as the composer said, “it goes around the corner now and then.” But barely. The three-movement, 16-minute work couldn’t have been written 25 years ago, but most of it could have 100 years ago. Kibbe’s Quartet isn’t neo-Romantic; it’s unadulterated.

Marked “turbulent beginning,” “melancholy thoughts” and “with passion,” its three sections deliver on what they promise, with swirling lyrical textures and rich sonorities. Propelled by its honest emotions, tonal harmony and, in the outer portions, an urgent rhythmic underpinning, the quartet is striking more for its frankness and craftsmanship than for originality, but then the composer obviously doesn’t put much stock in that last term. Good for him.

Violinist Miwako Watanabe, violist Roland Kato, cellist David Speltz and pianist Ayke Agus offered a solidly played, full-blown performance, well received.

One could appreciate the gusto with which this same ensemble attacked Faure’s C-minor Piano Quartet while still wishing they loved it less: Restraint and elegance seemed rare. Hindemith’s early Viola Sonata, Opus 11, No. 4, sounds not like that composer at all, but proved unexciting anyway in Kato’s and Agus’ responsible but slightly stodgy reading.