Maestro's Farewell--Despite last-minute complications, there were memorable moments in Clark Suttle's farewell concert.

The setup for last weekend''s Monterey County Symphony was--at least for me--a disappointment. As orginally announced, departing music director Clark Suttle''s last concert aimed for the stars: Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss and Brahms'' Piano Concerto 2 with soloist John O''Conor. However the MC Symphony Association decided, after its original announcement, that the huge orchestra required by Strauss was too expensive, hence they downsized to Schumann''s Symphony in E flat "Rhenish." Then, O''Conor complained to Suttle that he had hurt his hand (various other versions quickly surfaced) and needed to downsize the Brahms to Mozart''s Concerto 21 in C.

Frustrated expectations, however, were handily turned around by the addition of Darius Milhaud''s brilliant La Creation du Monde. Moreover, under Suttle''s baton, the orchestra effectively limned both the extraordinary inventions of the Mozart and the splashing eccentricities of the Schumann.

Milhaud wrote his dance score--the first major concert work to reflect American jazz--in 1923, a year before Gershwin sprang his Rhapsody in Blue upon the world. In the work''s many changes of mood, Milhaud faithfully followed the original choreographic design. At its most outrageous, the 17 instruments engage in fugal counterpoint equally complex and bawdy, punctuated with lewd expletives on trombone. Suttle led the band as much with swinging body english as with his traditional hand cues, imparting the distinctive American flavor that Milhaud wanted. Stylish playing abounded, with special emphasis on William Trimbell''s sensuous saxophone.

Pianist O''Conor pulled a rabbit out of his hat with the Mozart. Early in the first movement, his playing was on edge, but finally he settled into a blossoming performance, especially in the irresistibly romantic slow movement. In the solo cadenzas, the pianist indulged in some mischievously arch phrasing, suggesting that the composer might have done so himself.

The program notes alluded to the waxing and waning reputation of Robert Schumann. As well-demonstrated by this reading of the "Rhine Symphony," the composer flashes all manner of original ideas that somehow work in spite of their cobbling; the five movements seem somehow strangely unrelated. But, considered as a prototype, it takes no large leap of imagination to see how Smetana dreamed up his famous programmatic cruise down the Vltava River from its origins in the southern mountains of the Czech Republic to Prague.

In starting the second half of the program, timpanist Peter Thielen read a heartfelt tribute to retiring music director Suttle on behalf of his colleagues in the orchestra, and presented the maestro with a handsome wooden music stand and plaque reiterating their respect, admiration and appreciation for his work. At the concert''s conclusion, the audience rose to give Suttle a standing ovation reflecting similar sentiments. cw

Last Week''s Quiz: What major 19th century composer wrote in correspondence, "Joking apart, Prince Albert asked me to go to him on Saturday at two o''clock so that I may try his organ?" Answer: Felix Mendelssohn.

This Week''s Quiz: What is the overriding principle pursued by Wagner in his greatest works (Der fliegende H”llander, Lohengrin, Der Ring des Nibelungen, Tannh„user, Die Meistersinger, Tristan und Isolde, Parsifal)?

Classical Calendar

Hartnell Choirs

Friday, noon & 7:30pm. Sandy Rudo directs college choir and chamber singers in madrigals, folksongs, show tunes. Main Stage, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. Free. On-campus parking, $1 (four quarters). 755-6905.

Soprano Janet Williams

Friday, 8pm. Internationally acclaimed rising star of opera sings arias by Handel, popular lieder by Mozart and Strauss, John Harbison''s Mirabai Songs. Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at 9th Avenue, Carmel. 625-3637.

Santa Cruz Baroque Festival

Friday, 8pm. Canaries, Cuckoos and Chickens celebrates four centuries of fowl music with singer Boyd Jarrell, instrumental ensemble led by harpsichordist Linda Burman-Hall. Music Center Recital Hall, UC Santa Cruz. $15 general, $12 seniors, $8 students. 457-9693.

Hartnell Band

Tuesday, 7:30pm. Carl Christensen directs community band in patriotic music by Read, Sousa, others. Main Stage, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. Free. (Parking: $1, four quarters). 755-6905.

MPC String Ensemble

Tuesday, 8pm. David Dally directs chamber music selections by Brahms, Bolling, Dring, Mozart. Music Hall, Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. Free. (Parking: 75›, three quarters). 646-4200.

UCSC Dance

Friday/Saturday. 8pm; Sunday, 3 pm. Silva Martins and student dancers appear in Spirited Moves, new works by choreographers Mel Wong, Remy Charlip. Mainstage Theater, UC Santa Cruz. $9. 459-2159.