COURTESY IMG ARTISTS Christopher Parkening, who studied with great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia, will perform again today.

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Milanov leads
exotic delight

But technical limits detract
from a talented guitar soloist

The Honolulu Symphony Orchestra's classical season opened Friday evening with a concert filled with minor harmonies, exotic melodies and exciting rhythms.

Honolulu Symphony With classical guitarist Christopher Parkening, conducted by Rossen Milanov: In concert: 4 p.m. today Where: Blaisdell Concert Hall Tickets: $22 to $73 Call: 792-2900 or Ticketmaster, 877-750-4400 Order online: honolulusymphony.com or ticketmaster.com

The program featured guest conductor Rossen Milanov, associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a program of Ravel's "Rapsodie Espagnole" (1908), Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" (1940) and Ravel's orchestral version of Musorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" (1922).

Milanov's artistic reputation and professional distinction drew the attention of music enthusiasts, and world-famous guitarist Christopher Parkening also promised a great concert.

Without doubt Milanov satisfied expectations. He elaborated the menacing beginning and languid development of the "Rapsodie" with mastery. The maestro brought the orchestra together with supple movements and great charisma, leading the musicians through the extremes of turbulence and indolence that alternate in Ravel's work.

The "Prelude" of the "Rapsodie" is made of a simple Spanish-sounding, four-note ostinato, or melodic pattern. Yet the orchestra gave a meaning to every note and color. In the last movement was "Feria," consisting of rhythms from a jota (Spanish dance), the lower strings and woodwinds projected their clear strong sound in the hall. The contrasting dynamics of the orchestra and the precision of the seven percussionists gave justice to Ravel's work.

Parkening, protégé of the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia and one of the world's finest classical guitarists, performed as soloist in Rodrigo's concerto. The popularity of this work, its expressiveness along with technical difficulties and orchestral balance, have always challenged guitarists.

The easy-listening tone of the piece pleased the audience, but Parkening's performance satisfied only partially. The balance between guitar and orchestra was the most evident flaw. Only rarely could the demanding passages in the higher notes of the guitar be heard. That impelled Parkening to play louder, sometimes jeopardizing the highest strings' sound and sacrificing expressiveness. However, his fast strums -- rasgueados -- were clear and precise, and his lower strings sounded strong, in true Spanish tradition.

The guitar repertoire has intimate qualities that disappear in large concert halls and the soloist's volume is often a main issue. Using a microphone could be an option, but would risk losing the originality and gracefulness of the instrument's sound.

Parkening played the encore crowd-pleaser "Cavatina," from the movie "The Deer Hunter" by composer Stanley Myers (1978). With its relaxing quality, the music softened the tone of the evening, moving some listeners, but tiring others.

The concert closed with "Pictures at an Exhibition." Although one of the greatest works by Musorgsky, its original piano version (1874) was ignored for a long time until Ravel arranged it for orchestra in 1922. Milanov and the symphony brought to life the pictures and the transitional "Promenades" with brilliant colors and enjoyable verve.