CHAMBER ORCHESTRA OGDEN, Browning Theater, Ogden’s Union Station, Nov. 12

As far as the performing arts go, Utah has everything – except a full time chamber orchestra. But thanks to Michael Palumbo, that void has now been filled. His Chamber Orchestra Ogden is the newest addition to the state’s rich music scene. This is a young orchestra with room for growth, but it has the capability of becoming an ensemble to be reckoned with.

Saturday, the ensemble played its second concert (and its first of the season) with a well chosen program that spotlighted members of the orchestra and also the orchestra itself.

The program opened with Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto Grosso in D minor, op. 3, no. 11, with concertmaster Peggy Wheelwright and principal second Ann Cox as soloists – and without Palumbo on the podium. The two violinists, as well as the ensemble, exhibited some nicely phrased and articulated playing, and there was a good balance between them. This was a fine start to the concert.

Principal bassoon Thomas Priest joined the ensemble and Palumbo as soloist in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Concerto in B flat, K. 191. An early work, written around the time Mozart wrote his five violin concertos, this is an excellent piece that displays the bassoon as a lyrical instrument well. And Priest gave an outstanding account that brought out the expressiveness of the music. There were a few rough spots in his playing, though, but that was undoubtedly caused by dry reeds, and it wasn’t anything that distracted from his performance.

Palumbo and the orchestra offered finely crafted support that was balanced and allowed Priest to shine. There was wonderfully phrased and executed playing by everyone that brought out the wit and charm of the work.

The evening ended with Franz Schubert’s delightful Symphony No. 6, the so called Little C Major. This work, more than the others on the program, showed what this fledgling orchestra is able to do. The playing was crisp and clean and Palumbo elicited nuanced playing from everyone that captured the subtleties of the score. He also captured the youthful joy of the fast movements and the charm of the Andante. It was a well conceived interpretation and the orchestra delivered a rock solid performance.