MUSIC REVIEW : Chamber Virtuosi Opens Season in Malibu

The California Chamber Virtuosi opened its sixth season Sunday afternoon in Smothers Theatre at Pepperdine University in Malibu with music by Vivaldi, Beethoven and Brahms. Henri Temianka, artistic director and commentator for the group, offered wry observations between the pieces, lending an informal, though informative, atmosphere to the proceedings.

The musicians were as diverse as the music. The Chamber Virtuosi is not a set body of players, but consists rather of a different assortment of invited musicians for each concert. As individuals on Sunday, they proved worthy and able players. As chamber musicians, however, they sometimes revealed the apparent shortness of their acquaintance.

Brahms’ Trio in B, Opus 8, came off best. Here, violinist Arturo Delmoni, cellist Timothy Landauer and pianist John Steele Ritter offered cohesive playing and unified intent.

Tempos, even in the adagio, were kept marching steadily ahead, which gave the soaring, fervent melodies a firm underpinning. Dramatic pacing was carefully controlled: Though attentive to expressive detail from moment to moment, the musicians clearly held something in reserve.

Beethoven’s Serenade in D, Opus 25, was the main work on the first half. Flutist Mary Palchak and violist Eric Shumsky joined Delmoni in a reading that was a little rough around the edges but that captured most of the work’s buoyant charm.