Music Review : Krouse Offers Flamenco Fantasy at the Biltmore

In Ian Krouse’s passionately melancholy “Tientos,” flamenco music becomes the focal point of an attractive five-part fantasy for string trio and flute. On Sunday, Pacific Serenades presented the world premiere of the work in a bold and satisfying afternoon concert in the Emerald Room of the Biltmore Hotel.

From its relentless, opening rhythmic ostinatos, to more sustained and contrapuntal sections, through an extended flute cadenza and then a recapitulation of the first part, the 22-minute work explores flamenco guitar riffs and the melismatic improvisations of a flamenco singer. The score also favors the darker, mystical mood of the folk style.

Krouse, a guitarist as well as composer, carefully blends the tonal Spanish idioms with Stravinskyan dissonances and harmonies. The neoclassical, quasi-minimalist result is pleasantly unpredictable as well as inventive, fresh and tightly organized.

Mark Carlson, artistic director of Pacific Serenades, performed the difficult flute part--which includes a razzle-dazzle cadenza--with aggressive but controlled elan. The rest of the ensemble--violinist Connie Kupka, violist Michael Nowak and cellist David Speltz--provided a sturdy, reliable accompaniment.

Opening the program were convincing readings of Mozart’s Quartet, K. 285, for flute and strings and Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello.