Chamber orchestra concert showcases pleasing flutist

Posted: Sunday, October 31, 1999

The Randel Chamber Orchestra opened its season Friday with a charming concert featuring an outstanding flute soloist.

The concert opened with the bouncy "Symphony No. 27 in G major" by Mozart. The piece was a perfect example of why the Amarillo Symphony needs a chamber orchestra. The music deserves to be heard, but the piece was not written for the full orchestra.

Brad Garner, a Canyon native who's now an active soloist and teacher in New York and Cincinnati, performed two solo pieces with the chamber orchestra, Bach's "Orchestra Suite No. 2 in B minor" and Ibert's "Concerto for Flute." Both were delightful spotlights for the talented Garner.

The Bach piece pared back the already intimate orchestra to just strings, harpsichord and Garner. The suite began with a grand opening movement, followed by six brief dances that all but transformed the sanctuary of St. Stephen United Methodist Church into a Viennese ballroom.

The Ibert composition was a smart choice to feature Garner's skills. The andante movement allowed him to show off his heart, while the dramatic allegro scherzando movement showcased his phenomenal technique.

The piece was a smart choice for the concert bill, given its strikingly more modern feel and chill-evoking ending. It was made more special by the fact that Garner's father, Dr. Gary Garner of West Texas A&M University, led the orchestra as guest conductor for the piece.

The concert closed with the fanciful "Petite Suite: Children's Games" by Georges Bizet.

The Randel Chamber Orchestra next will perform Feb. 4 at Trinity Baptist Church in a concert featuring principal violist Joanna Mendoza.