By Lyn Bronson

 As we approach the end of Clark Suttle’s tenure as Music Director and Conductor of the Monterey County Symphony, it would be nice to say that he will be going out in a blaze of glory. However, the disappointing concert we heard at Sunset Center on Monday evening suggests otherwise. The program consisted of Fauré’s Pavane, Op. 50, for Orchestra and Chorus, Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” Symphony and the great Mozart Requiem, K.626.

In the Fauré Pavanne the lovely opening flute solo by principal flutist, Dawn Walker, was seemingly a promising omen for what to come during the evening’s program. The Symphony Chorus, prepared by Ken Ahrens, sounded fine, and we have to express admiration for the splendid dedication demonstrated by these non-professional singers (non-professional only in that they volunteer their services for free). Following the Fauré we heard Mendelssohn’s “Reformation” Symphony, a lightweight work at best, in a pleasant performance which had its charming moments.

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