David Bratman

The San Jose Chamber Music Society kicked off its season with a lively program split between Latin American and European composers.

The orchestra dedicated its season opener to the maestro with a program of Beethoven and Schumann.

The program was sparkling, imaginative, and even exotic, featuring works from Chinese-American composer Chen Yi and Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu.

Performing works inspired by Schubert’s example brought needed variety to Music@Menlo.

Schubert lived a tragic life, resulting in some dour music. But the third Schubertiade in Music@Menlo summer festival proved even the darkest music can be rewarding.

This year, the chamber music festival features performances of the music of and music that inspired the Austrian composer.

Cellist Arnold Choi performed four works, three unaccompanied, at the festival’s new venue in downtown San Jose.

A trio (plus some friends) provided excitement in a party of French chamber music.

Clarinetists Romie de Guise-Langlois and David Shifrin, occasionally joined by violin and piano, dazzled.

The symphony, with assistance from choristers, performed the Rachmaninoff masterpiece, which is based off the poem by Edgar Allan Poe.