Israeli pianist Roman Rabinovich makes his debut with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra this weekend, not only performing but also playing a cadenza of his own composition. The concert features two pieces by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a wild surrealist romp by Francis Poulenc with a vocal part sung by baritone John Moore, and Igor Stravinsky’s Concerto in D, “Basel.” Friday’s opening was sold out. The program begins with Mozart’s Horn Quintet, where horn player Matthew Wilson gracefully plays back and forth with four string musicians— two violas, a violin and a cello. It’s a charming piece that highlights Wilson’s skill creating a bright tone matching the other instruments. Throughout, there’s a marvelous play happening as the melody bounces between instruments, with wonderful moments especially between Wilson and violinist Eunice Kim. The orchestra plays Stravinsky next, with the violin and viola players standing up, and two sides of the orchestra squared off against each other. Beginning with a series of stressed repeated notes, the piece is marked with drama and mystery. Introducing “Le bal masqué (The Masked Ball)” by Francis Poulenc, concert master Steven Copes said on Friday he didn’t remember playing the piece with the SPCO previously. He noted that when the work premiered, it was accompanied by an exhibit featuring giraffe sculptures with patches that could be lifted to reveal surrealist phrases. Poulenc set the music to words by his friend, French poet Max Jacob. Rabinovich joins the SPCO for the piece, not as a soloist but as part of the carnivalesque ensemble. Piano chords begin the music, followed by a quick snap of percussion. What follows is the sound of a circus, or perhaps an unhinged party of various surprises. The strange and sometimes rather disturbing lyrics Moore sings in the tune can be followed along in the lyric handout. They tie together a series of fantastical images and characters, with an emphasis on dark, often morbid humor. Moore’s performance relishes in the theatricality of the strange story, finding dynamic moments, like an eerie whisper at the end of the sixth movement as Rabinovich plays a series of deep low notes on the piano, and using a falsetto voice in the last movement. After intermission, Rabinovich performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 with the orchestra. In a Facebook video Rabinovich posted on Jan. 10, he shared with his followers the tidbit that Mozart didn’t write his own cadenza for the music, and a cadenza that Beethoven wrote for it is the most frequently performed. Rabinovich himself used to perform Beethoven’s version, but now has created his own personal cadenza for the piece. The pianist borrows motifs from the concerto for the virtuosic solo section, and leans into Mozart’s own syncopated rhythms and dissonance. The cadenza feels remarkably contemporary, though not in such a way that it’s out of place. Rather, it acts as a connection between the 240-year-old piece of music and today. The second movement highlights Rabinovich’s lyricism. The pianist employs an elegant gestural movement, lifting his wrists gently at the end of each phrase. The last movement, Rondo, was performed with transcendence by the musicians. If you go Who: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra What: Roman Rabinovich Plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 When: 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday Where: Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul Tickets: $16-$68; thespco.org Capsule: Pianist Roman Rabinovich and baritone John Moore team up with the SPCO for a concert of surrealism, drama and Mozart. Related Articles Music and Concerts | Country band Old Dominion to open the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand season Music and Concerts | Opera review: Charming ‘Christmas Spider’ has room for improvement Music and Concerts | Concert review: Cantus makes Christmas merry and bright, a capella style Music and Concerts | Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor to play Xcel Energy Center in June Music and Concerts | This weekend, Latin American Baroque meets modern at choral ensemble Border CrosSing’s Christmastime shows