Cleveland Orchestra brilliant in its opening concert

"A Night in Vienna," the Cleveland Orchestra's gala concert Saturday night at Severance Hall, launched the ensemble's 87th season with a program of light music, mostly from music director Franz Welser-MÖst's native Austria.

Welser-MÖst conducted the entertaining repertoire with flair, affection and appreciation for the composers' wit and humor. The orchestra responded with brilliance.

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The evening began with a substantial work, the First Waltz Sequence from "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss (no relation to the Viennese Waltz King). Welser-MÖst went for sentiment rather than sentimentality as the grandeur of the opening melted into delicate chamber textures, subtly nuanced dynamics and ravishing sonorities.

Mozart's "A Musical Joke," K. 522, showed what happens when a composer of genius tries to write bad music. Despite intentional wrong notes, asymmetrical phrases and misplaced accents, the music still sounded elegant. Welser-MÖst got into the spirit of the sophisticated joke by stepping off the podium, approaching the errant horns and shaking his head in mock despair. Concertmaster William Preucil had fun with a cadenza that strayed off into a foreign key.

Ten Early Waltzes by Arnold Schoenberg, the concert's curiosity, were first published last year and were said to have been performed for the first time last month in Salzburg, even though Southwest Chamber Music programmed a version last year in California. Imaginatively scored for string orchestra, the slight pieces indicate that the pathbreaking composer had a mind of his own, even before he rejected tonality in favor of 12-tone technique.

Principal violist Robert Vernon played the solo role warmly in the 10th waltz. Then, principal cellist Desmond Hoebig took the spotlight, pouring out the opening aria in an overture by Franz von Suppe with the lyricism of a bel canto singer. Welser-MÖst led the piece with blazing energy, and he brought buoyancy to the set of dances by Johann Strauss Jr. that concluded the printed program. The conductor playfully translated the German titles of two polkas as "Forest of Doughnuts" and "Gossip." He evoked visions of a swirling ballroom, crystal chandeliers and champagne toasts in "Emperor Waltz."

Between encores by Johan Strauss Sr. & Jr., Welser-MÖst said, "After a wonderful tour in Europe, it's great to be home again."

Patrons paid up to $1,500 for the evening, which included pre-concert cocktails and a post-concert dinner. Today at 5 p.m., the public is invited to hear excerpts from the concert for free at Severance Hall as part of "Day of ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Music," the orchestra's afternoon of musical entertainment for the whole family.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

wsalisbury@plaind.com, 216-999-4248

© 2004 The Plain Dealer. Used with permission.