Camerata Pacifica’s May concert was a compelling demonstration of the kind of magic they apply to pieces and genres one might be very familiar with, providing an ear-opening re-experience of something you thought you knew. The show kicked off with Debussy’s “Prélude à l’après-mid d’un faune” in a luminous arrangement for small ensemble by Arnold Schoenberg. It was a delightful rendering of Debussy’s revolutionary interpretation of Mallarmé’s symbolist poem of the same name. Pierre Boulez called it the beginning of modern music. Next up, pianist Molly Morkoski gave a focussed and beautiful performance of Satie’s early works “Gnossiennes Nos. 1 – 3,” which like the more well known “Gymnopédies” were intended to be background music, akin to furniture in a room, and, in their spareness and seeming aimlessness, a rejection of Wagnerian Romanticism. Impressionism is related to symbolism in a way, and Emma-Ruth Richards’s “Hora de la Cerc” is an impressionistic take on a Romanian folk song and a painting of dancers by Matisse masterfully played by an ensemble of eight. Baritone Andrew Garland joined Ms. Morkoski for Ravel’s “Don Quichotte à Dulcinée” for some more decidedly lighthearted music making. Staying in the realm of impressionism after an intermission, harpist extraordinaire Bridget Kibbey and 5 members of Camerata gave a rousing performance of Ravel’s “Introduction & Allegro” which was commissioned by a harp manufacturer as retaliation for a rival harp maker’s commission of Debussy’s “Danse sacré et Danse profane.” The Debussy may be performed more often, but the rival’s harps fell out of favor, and Ravel’s lovely piece has been dubbed by some the most beautiful piece of music. In this program filled with beauties, it was difficult to decide which was the most, as the concluding four lieder by Gustav Mahler, also arranged by Schoenberg, made abundantly clear. I’m not a huge fan of Mahler or lieder, but Mr. Garland, the exceptional ensemble and perhaps Schoenberg made for a scintillating finale of the concert and Camerata’s 2017-2018 season.
