Music Fest performance is superb

PARK CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL, Park City Community Church, Sunday, additional performances through July 23, 943-0169, 435-649-5309 and www.pcmusicfestival.com

The Park City and Salt Lake City Summer Music Festival closed out its first weekend with a superb program of music by German and Austrian composers.

Taking place in Park City Community Church Sunday, the concert consisted of Schubert's Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello in B flat major, D. 581; Weber's Clarinet Quintet in B flat major, op. 34; and Brahms' Piano Trio in C minor, op. 101.

The evening began with the Schubert Trio. Schubert wrote so many wonderful works for chamber ensembles, orchestra and solo piano that are filled with irresistible melodies that it's nearly impossible to find a favorite among them. But the B flat major Trio is certainly one of his most attractive pieces. It's captivating for its light, airy character, its charm and its almost Haydnesque wit and melodicism.

Violinist Manuel Ramos, violist Leslie Harlow and cellist Armen Ksajikian did a wonderful job playing it. They captured the work's lightness and grace with their dexterous reading. They also infused their playing with lyricism and fluid phrasings that was refreshing and appealing.

Weber's glorious Clarinet Quintet followed. A prolific composer who wrote quite a large body of works before his death at the age of 40, the Clarinet Quintet is one of his most popular and better known chamber pieces.

The quintet is clearly indebted to Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, K. 581, in its structure and classical proportions, as well as in the writing for the clarinet and in the interplay among the five instruments.

Clarinetist Russell Harlow was joined by Ramos, Ksajikian, Leslie Harlow and violinist Monte Belknap for a radiant performance that captured the wonderful lyricism of the work. They played with articulate delivery, expression and polish.

The second movement ("Fantasia") was especially magical. Operatic in character, Russell Harlow gave an emotionally charged account of this movement that was mirrored in the other's playing as well.

Harlow, who is the associate principal clarinetist of the Utah Symphony, is a remarkably talented performer. His talents can be particularly appreciated at these concerts. He has amazing technique and fabulous musicality, both of which were amply on display Sunday evening. But it wasn't just Harlow who shined. The string players matched him in eloquence and expression. The result was an exquisitely crafted performance of this work.

The Brahms Trio was the final piece on the program. Ramos, Ksajikian and pianist John Jensen gave a dynamic and impassioned account that wasn't overstated. It was filled with subtlety and nuanced expressions. Particularly striking was their reading of the hushed second movement (Presto), with its muted strings and underlying sense of urgency and drama.

As an encore, Ramos, Ksajikian and Jensen played Autumn and Winter from Piazzolla's "The Seasons."

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E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com