Paradigm begins season impressively

Paradigm Concerts opened its ninth season Friday with a world premiere performance of Concertino for Viola and Chamber Orchestra by Utah composer William Wallace.

Written for Paradigm founder and director Joel Rosenberg and performed by him and the Paradigm Chamber Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Michael Palumbo, the Concertino is a delightfully romantic, rhythmic and expressive piece. Not especially virtuosic in its writing for the soloist, it finds its effectiveness in skillfully blending the solo viola with the orchestra while maintaining the viola's solo status.

Rosenberg played his part flawlessly, giving a remarkably expressive and sensitive performance that captured the spirit of the work. It was an imaginative reading that was matched by Palumbo's intelligent direction.

Rosenberg did double duty Friday evening. Besides soloing, he also conducted the orchestra in the concluding work on the program, Bach's flashy Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major. Rosenberg is a versatile conductor who moves easily and naturally in every style period, but he has a particularly keen ear for baroque music. Consequently, he conducted the Brandenburg Concerto with insight, giving the music depth and dimension. His tempos tended to be fairly lively, giving the music fluidity.

Despite the fact that the F major concerto is scored for seven solo instruments, it is very much a showcase for the two French horns. And hornists Scott Dickson and Robert Cameron gave a performance of which they can be proud. The two horn parts in this work are demanding even for professional players, but Dickson and Cameron were impressive.

The other soloists in the Bach — violinist Francine Potter (who will be replaced by Marilyn Anderson at Friday's repeat performance), oboists Hilary Coon, Chris Sorensen and David Clayton, and bassoonist Teri Mark — were also noteworthy.

Rosenberg opened the concert with three Italian dances from the 14th and 16th centuries. Two movements from Reger's Suite for Unaccompanied Viola, in an arrangement for viola and strings, was also on the program.

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