Brockton Symphony puts out stellar effort

Because of a printer's deadline snafu, Brockton Symphony concertgoers got to experience the orchestra's most recent offering minus the benefit of playbills. But this was the only misstep in an otherwise remarkable event, one of the finest efforts this group has put forth in some time.

Most any knowledgeable listener would have recognized the final item performed, Felix Mendelssohn's "Italian Symphony," without prompting. Its swift-footed outer movements and eggshell-fragile inner entities provide stern obstacles for any ensemble.And conductor Jonathan Cohler's properly brisk tempos left his charges no comfort zone for miscues.

Happily, the players seized Cohler's challenge with both hands, giving forth thoughtfully balanced textures, buoyantly energetic rhythms and picture-perfect finger work. The results were truly exciting to hear.

Exciting, too, was the word for this afternoon's soloist, 15-year-old cellist Sebastian Baverstam. He chose to present Robert Schumann's infrequently encountered "Cello Concert," a formidably difficult piece that sounds nowhere near as tough to play as it actually is. But with his effortless yet rock-sure technique, round yet meaty tone, and well-controlled yet winning stage presence, Baverstam demonstrated prowess miles beyond his tender years. The symphony supported its precocious virtuoso guest with elegance and sensitivity.

And the opening selection, "Siegfried Idyll," by Richard Wagner, did not suffer from the shakiness that has occasionally plagued past curtain raisers. A warm, low-key chamber orchestra work light years removed from the weighty fare many associate with this composer, it benefited significantly from Cohler's rich yet understated interpretation and the group's luscious sound and spotless execution.