Music Reviews : Three Michael Cave Works in Santa Monica

The easily digestible, neo-Romantic music of Michael Cave was served up in a satisfying concert Sunday afternoon at Verdi’s Ristorante di Musica, Santa Monica. Only a few half-baked moments marred the presentation of three ambitious works by the California- and Missouri-based pianist/composer.

Given a preview performance via a clumsy, makeshift arrangement for small chamber ensemble, Cave’s “Renascence”--normally for mezzo-soprano and full orchestra--crosses operatic elements from Puccini with a fluid musical language borrowed from Shostakovich in his more conservative moments. A setting of a symbolic poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the 40-minute work uses simple modal materials and repeating patterns with mild dissonances occurring frequently.

Mezzo Lester Senter, in her first Los Angeles appearance, provided a foursquare, diligent reading despite the acoustic limitations of the location. She will also perform “Renascence” when it receives its world premiere in a fully staged version with orchestra later this month in Jackson, Miss.

Cave opened the concert with an expert, lively performance of his Chopinesque “Romantic Sonata.” “Canto” for tenor and small chamber ensemble fell short of expectations, due largely to the overly sentimental love poetry by poet/tenor Carlos Valle, who also aptly performed the work.