Reviews

Music Fest rousing, moving

BY LORETTA HASKELL
Post and Courier Reviewer
February 28, 2009

Charleston Music Fest presented an evening of "Mostly Baroque" chamber music Friday night at the Simons Center for the Arts.

Countertenor Jose Lemos led off the evening in three arias from Handel's "Giulio Caesar," accompanied by string quartet and harpsichord. Lemos' final note of "Al Lampo dell'armi" melted the audience and was a testament to the countertenor voice, so often preferred over the mezzo-soprano, in baroque opera.

Cellist Natalia Khoma's and Pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky's interpretation of Popper's "Hungarian Rhapsody" followed and roused the audience to enthusiastic applause after the exciting juxtaposition of folk song and virtuoso writing.

Violinist Lee-Chin Siow and Pianist Enrique Graf's performance of William Grant Still's "Suite for Violin and Piano," inspired by three paintings and in three contrasting movements, set a more contemplative and introspective mood before the return of Lemos and friends for three arias from "Giulio Caesar."

To end the program, the Charleston Camerata joined soloists Siow, Vynnytsky and Flautist Jill Muti for Bach's Brandenburg "Concerto No. 5," under the direction of Khoma. Vynnytsky's cadenza was one of the high points of this wonderful concert.

Charleston Music Fest will feature a different program Sunday. For more information, visit www.CharlestonMusicFest.com.