`Some Enchanted Evening' -- Bermuda Conservatory of Music -- St. John's Church -- April 25 In an evening of outstanding musicianship, Saturday's concert of chamber music traced the influence of romanticism from its heyday in the early 19th Century through to the present day. This was a fascinating and bold approach and, as presented by the Bermuda Conservatory of Music, confirmed that contemporary music can be accessible to what was, probably, largely a lay audience.

The concert opened with one of the great works of the chamber repertoire, Schumann's Piano Quintet in E Flat Major, written in 1842 when the composer was at the height of his creative powers. Combining, for the first time ever, his beloved piano with strings (two violins, viola and cello), Schumann produced a work that positively glows with melodic lyricism, his apparent trademark spontaneity couched in quietly virtuosic craftsmanship.

With Karol Sue Reddington at the piano, violinists Diane Hamilton and Jennifer Sheridan, Kate Ross on viola and cellist Jennifer Green, this was a beautiful account of the work; after the tuneful and propulsive opening, the second movement -- in which Reddington led the way -- was altogether more sombre until it gathered momentum for the leaping, ascending and descending scales of the Scherzo, leading to a brilliant finale in which the charming melody of the first movement was richly embroidered.

Then, it was across an ocean -- and a century -- to experience romanticism, American-style. In the shape of Samuel Barber (1910-1981), whose songs have gained worldwide respect and even affection, this was a wholly satisfying sensation. Trained as a singer, Barber's songs, almost always deeply rooted in poetry, have a strong melodic bent. This was certainly true of his cycle of `Hermit Songs', based on poems and versified fragments written by monks and assorted hermits, some of them dating from as early as the 8th Century.

Fascinatingly comic and moving in turn and wondrously modern in impact (though probably this has much to do with masterful translations by the likes of W.H.

Auden and Sean O'Faolain), the songs were given an exquisitely sensitive account by Julianne Cross. Accompanied with great sensitivity on the piano by Reddington, her voice was in elegant command, sustaining with ease the climactic high notes of "St. Ita's Vision'', and particularly distinguished in its clarity of diction -- an important attribute for a cycle where the words are both amusingly charming (as in "The Monk and his Cat'' and "The Heavenly Banquet'') and moving, as in the final "Desire for Hermitage''.

Although he is widely regarded as the leading art-song composer in America today, Ned Rorem is also a prolific composer of opera, music for ballet and the theatre, as well as orchestral and chamber works. His "Spring Music'', while thoroughly modern, seems to hark back to the impressionistic influences of the French composers Poulenc, Auric and Milhaud with whom he formed friendships during a six-year sojourn in Paris during the '50s.

Composed for a trio of piano, cello and violin, this technically challenging, five-movement work was superbly interpreted by Karol Sue Reddington with outstandingly gifted guest artists from America, Jennifer Green (cello) and Rebecca Harris (violin). Opening with the strings in dreamy mood, the piano rippling effortlessly through gossamer-like scales, the second movement was altogether brisker and dance-like in its slurping rhythms. This progressed to a virtuosic and highly atmospheric Fantasia, with both the violin and the gorgeously sonorous cello taking up solo themes. The Bagatelle (romantic lyricism at perhaps its modern best) seems to serve as a short bridge to the final, bubbly musical acrobatics of the Presto. This trio, in perfect rapport, provided a timely reminder that modern music -- especially when it's performed at such a high standard -- is indeed accessible.

Altogether, an innovative and highly enjoyable evening, which augurs well for the recent merger of the Dunbarton and Suzuki Schools. The concert was dedicated to the memory of Wendy Kyle, one of the dedicated pioneers who worked so effectively to bring music into the lives of so many of Bermuda's youngest people. She would have been proud.

PATRICIA CALNAN ENCHANTING MUSIC -- Musicians taking part in the Bermuda Conservatory of Music's concert, `Some Enchanted Evening', held in St. John's Church included (back row, left to right) Diane Hamilton (violin), Rebecca Harris-Lee (violin), soprano Julianne Cross, Jennifer Sheridan (violin) and Kate Ross (viola) and (front row) pianist Karol Sue Reddington and cellist Jennifer Green.

THEATRE THR CONCERT REVIEW REV