Thursday, March 13, 2008

La Maison Francaise presented the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia on Tuesday in an all-French program with harp soloist Elizabeth Hainen. The group is mostly young and highly competent; standouts include its first oboist and lone bass player. However, the PCO shows no particular character or profile beyond professionalism.

The sound is clean and accurate, though the violinists' G-strings were not all in tune. The group is not in the class of Orpheus or the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. I don't know what La Maison paid to bring the ensemble here, but it could have gotten equivalent musical quality from any of a half-dozen local groups.

Led by guest conductor J¿r¿mie Rhorer, the PCO gave two long sets of suites by Rameau adapted from stage works. Rhorer is young and talented. He flashed some interesting podium choreography (its actual effect on the music being somewhat unclear) and kept the players on their toes, which they needed to be through all the repeats in this music.

Hainen used to grace the pit at the Kennedy Center Opera House but has moved up a couple of notches to principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra. In the Debussy "Danses Sacr¿e et Profane," she took welcome (and unusual) care with the rhythms in the first dance. I have heard a wider dynamic range from other harpists, but overall she displayed admirable agility and clarity. The same qualities were on display in the Boieldieu Harp Concerto, but the musical material was thin to the point of vapor.

-- Robert Battey