Jan 27, 2008 - Conductor Carl Topilow, violinist James Reinarz, Reno Chamber Orchestra concert

By Jack Neal

There’s nothing wrong with pleasant and placid, unless you prefer thrilling and exciting.

Conductor Carl Topilow was back on the Reno music scene Saturday night (1/26/08) guest conducting the Reno Chamber Orchestra at Nightingale Concert Hall. Also featured was the young American violinist James Reinarz, the orchestra’s 2008 College Concerto Competition winner, playing Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor.

It was a pleasant, placid event infused with lovely lyricism devoid of fireworks. Reminiscent of Bennie Benjamin’s 1940’s hit “I don’t want to set the world on fire, I just want to set a flame in your heart,” the flame in at least one cold heart was never ignited.

A cold evening outside, it was a cool evening inside. The youthful Reinarz comes close to thrilling, he plays the right notes (that alone is dazzling), but misses what could be a high-water mark of excitement. He doesn’t quite manage wearing his heart on his sleeve for a cliffhanging encounter with Bruch’s devilish and popular concerto.

Obviously a gifted artist, with seasoning it’s my guess Reinarz will eventually cut loose and catch the fire the Bruch offers for a more than even-keeled reading. At this point he’s feeling his way through the patchwork of good advice students get from great teachers before great teaching fuses with a young person’s less-than-predictable personality. When that happens Reinharz will find his voice and his beautifully grounded technique will turn into a sumptuous (he has a gorgeous sound) musicality. Nonetheless the Reinarz debut with the Reno Chamber Orchestra was a solid outing with a popular concerto that won him a standing ovation.

The program opened with Arensky’s lovely Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky. Topilow plays to the work’s lyricism for a luxurious performance and a double dipping of sweetness. Tchaikovsky is the King of Sweet, and Arensky knows how to schmooze in schmaltzy musical circles. Topilow’s soft, flowing approach to the work’s variations creates an environment for casual understatement that makes the Arensky an easy, alluring listen.

An exceptional clarinetist, Topilow doesn’t hesitate to program something where he can both conduct and play. Danzi’s Concert Piece No. 2 for Clarinet and Orchestra was this year’s choice. Based on a theme from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” the variations Danzi so inventively fabricated are a wonderful showcase for Topilow’s clarinet prowess. As with his conducting, there is a fluidity with Topilow’s playing that makes it very attractive. He’s a mildly emoting musician. That serves him well - both on the podium and as a concertizing clarinetist.

Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 4 in G major, “Mozartiana,” is given the same lush kind of presentation as everything else on the program. Who can argue with consistency? The Tchaikovsky is noted for its extended variation featuring a solo violin. Impressively brought off with dash, concertmaster Ruth Lenz has a field day with the rush to the finish line that makes the variation such fun to hear. There’s also a clarinet cadenza that principal clarinetist Deborah Davis handles nicely.

A Topilow arrangement for clarinet (Topilow, who else?), violin (Reinarz) and orchestra of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer,” so popularly used in the 1970s movie “The Sting,” was the program’s encore of choice. “The Entertainer” is an apt description of each of Mr. Topilow’s engagements with the RCO. An excellent musician, he’s also unassuming, charming and very entertaining. The concert will be repeated Sunday (1/27/08) at 2 p.m.

Reno Chamber Orchestra Concerts are played at Nightingale Concert Hall, 900 North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. The orchestra’s next series of concerts, March 9, 2008 at 8 p.m. and March 9, 2008 at 2 p.m., will feature the music of Janacek, Richard Strauss, and Beethoven, with pianist Fabio Bidini. Theodore Kuchar will conduct. For information call 775-348-9413 or go on line at renochamberorchestra.org.