Camerata Pacifica’s Ode to Woodwinds
Concert Showcased Horn, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, and Flute
Camerata Pacifica held an enchanting woodwind program at Music Academy of the West’s Hahn Hall last Friday. Known for bringing together talented musicians from all over the world, Camerata put together a January concert featuring eight highly skilled wind players and a set of compositions that showcased unique sounds of the horn, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and flute. The evening began with Czech composer Josef Mysliveček’s Wind Octet No. 3 in B-flat Major, a nine-minute introduction to the evening’s objective of illustrating the power of wind instruments. The second piece, Mozart’s Serenade for Winds in C Minor, was introduced by oboist James Austin Smith, who explained that the composition was built on “the darkest minor key” and noted that the austere melody was perfect for Friday’s stormy weather.
The third piece, Mozart’s Serenade for Winds in E-flat Major, built on a classically elegant sound and highlighted the talents of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra’s principle oboist Claire Brazeau. Artistic Director and flutist Adrian Spence joined the ensemble in the final piece, Gounod’s Petite Symphonie, which allowed each instrument’s individual voice to interact as if in conversation. It was lovely to watch the gifted musicians featured in this concert share the beautiful narrative of the wind family, and enjoy themselves in the process.
