J. Frautschi E. Zivian J. Greer July 13

JOSE WHITE'S MUSICAL ERA EXPLORED AT EXCITING VOM FESTIVAL CONCERT

Valley of the Moon Festival’s first full concert July 13 had several compositions with a potpourri flavor, centered around the Cuban violin virtuoso José White.

White (1836-1918) lived in Havana and Paris and was associated with many of the musical luminaries of the day, and the program featured three of his pieces and additional works from his long ago colleagues.

The most substantial was Saint Saëns’ B-Flat Major Piano Quartet, Op. 41, rarely performed perhaps because of its length and having so many musical ideas piling on top of each other. The announced pianist was gone with COVID, and Bay Area artist Elizabeth Dorfman supplied everything one could have wanted in this work from 1875 – robust phrasing, spiffy speed when needed, give and take thematic connection with partners violinist Juliette Greer, Liana Bérubé (viola) and cellist Tanya Tomkins.

Over 33 minutes and four movements the music moved from surging romanticism of the opening Allegretto to many short climaxes in the Andante Maestoso, the piano line heavy in the bass with pungent Forte chords. The Poco Allegro (scherzo) was rightly played fast with Ms. Dorfman’s speedy descending scales, held single notes and a beguiling short cadenza by Ms. Bérubé. The ending was lightweight, a big contrast to the racehorse of the finale, the music having whiffs of the composer’s fourth piano concerto.

A standing ovation followed the final notes and led to a long intermission and the program’s second half: the Presto movement of Chaminade’s Op. 11 Piano Trio. Jennifer Frautschi (violin) and pianist Adonis Gonzalez, who had earlier played White’s Zamacueca, were joined by cellist Coleman Itzkoff in a quick rendition of the frizzy work of the composer’s youth. The pianist overpedaled fast scales in the piece that needed clarity but was at times more effective in solos of White (Potpourri Cubano – arranged by Nicolás Espadero) and Gottschalk (La Gallina, Op. 53). Much of this mélange music passes without lasting impact and Mr. Gonzalez provided heavy, mostly loud and unsubtle playing and rigid phrasing.

An opposite impact occurred with Ms. Frautschi’s peppery performance of Sarasate’s iconic Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20, heard with the suave virtuosity of pianist Eric Zivian. Mr. Zivian contributed several of his well-known and humorous body movements (wide head leanings, hands painting in the air) along with effortless and sterling pianism. Bow control by Ms. Frautschi was amazing over the eight-minute romp.

The audience of 100 repaired to a patio reception sponsored by Bartholomew Park wines, mingling with the performers.

Earlier in the afternoon musicologist Yavet Boyadjiev gave the first Blattner Series lecture of the Festival, via recorded and live video, and hosted by Kate van Orden. It covered José White’s life and artistic world.