Approaching Harmony on Music Scene

Ventura County’s classical music season started up recently, with a bang and a prayer.

Two weekends ago, the New West Symphony launched its second concert season with a captivating performance, mostly thanks to guest artist Arnaldo Cohen. The Brazilian-cum-Londoner pianist’s precise yet emotionally galvanic readings of Lizst and Beethoven quite handily stole the show and verged on the revelatory.

It was the Southern California debut for the reluctant hero, right here in River City. There was an admirable sound coming out of the orchestra, as well, which for all of its birthing pains and conservatism is shaping up to be a fine--and finer--orchestra under Boris Brott’s guiding hand. Not a bad way to start out a concert season.

Unfortunately, another notable orchestral event, which was to have occurred this weekend, is out of the running, at least for the moment: The fledgling Channel Islands Symphony Orchestra, which gave its inaugural performance July 4 in Ojai, has postponed plans for its debut concert season in Oxnard, scheduled for Saturday.

High ideals are one thing, but creating a new orchestra can have its logistic obstacles, and the Channel Islands group’s founders chose to start out on more secure footing rather than rushing into a season unprepared. The plan now is to give a concert in May, as well as serving as the “pit band” for the “Nutcracker” in December.

This is the orchestra made possible, and perhaps necessary, by the creation of the New West Symphony, which merged the Conejo and Ventura County symphonies and left in its wake a group of disgruntled musicians, suddenly without a place to play. The Channel Islands Symphony Orchestra, to be led by gifted conductor Paul Polivnick, promises to be a valuable addition to the county’s cultural resources and a more adventurous organization than the New West. But it’s still only a promise.

In the heart of Simi Valley, there are other options for classical music lovers. On Saturday, the classical guitarist Michael Chapdelaine will perform in the quaint, oasis-like theater inside the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.

This small yet workable room is acoustically friendly to chamber music and recitals, particularly to the sensitive dynamic demands of classical guitar. Chapdelaine comes to us with sterling credentials, having studied with Segovia and the Italian guitarist Oscar Ghiglia. He won first place in the Guitar Foundation of America International competition and has won an NEA grant.

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The next day at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, the Ojai Brass Quintet will perform at 2 and 7 p.m., with proceeds benefiting the Simi Valley High School music department, where the group’s trumpeter Larry Elginer teaches. The quintet, formed in 1991 as the Gold Coast Wind Ensemble, is wont to cover a wide range of material, from pieces in the classical brass repertoire to jazz arrangements and an assortment of other stylistic detours.

* Michael Chapdelaine at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 Los Angeles Ave. Tickets are $18 adults, $14 seniors and students, $12 children 12 and younger; call 581-2714.

* Ojai Brass Quintet at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at the cultural arts center; tickets are $12.50 adults, $10 seniors and students; call 526-3857.