Orion Steers Time Travel

The Orion String Quartet leapt through a century and a half of stylistic changes Thursday night at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The performance began with Beethoven’s last complete work--his Quartet No. 16 in F, Opus 135--a late-in-life statement of Classicism that followed much more forward-looking pieces, as if the composer had turned to cap an era before bidding it farewell.

On this occasion, it seemed to provide both an artistic palette and a warmup session. The quartet was balanced and amiable in the Allegretto, but it emerged nonetheless as a bland dialogue. The musicians propelled themselves through the Vivace with single-minded energy, but overly squeaky enthusiasm tarnished first violinist Daniel Phillips’ lead.

Still, the performance had its moments, particularly in its hymn-like devotion for the personal utterances of the slow movement and in the good-natured bantering of the give and take of the closing movement.

The String Quartet that John Corigliano wrote in 1995 was commissioned to provide a salute to another leave-taking--the last recital tour of the Cleveland Quartet before disbanding. It is in arch form, full of mysterious whisperings and swarming contrapuntal passages, with a central Nocturne as the pinnacle of its five movements.

Throughout its 35-minute manipulation of purposely limited thematic materials, violinists Daniel and Todd Phillips, violist Steven Tenenbom and cellist Timothy Eddy created an emotionally focused and intellectually clear experience.

Then they shifted to Ravel’s String Quartet in F, during which they plied its luxurious harmonies with sultry pacing and subtle, synchronous shifts in dynamics.