NAVARRO, ENGERER IN TCHAIKOVSKY EVENT

Garcia Navarro, the conductor from Spain, and Brigitte Engerer, a young pianist from France, were the newcomers at the 17th annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular in Hollywood Bowl on Friday and Saturday.

Otherwise, the tried and true dominated: the Los Angeles Philharmonic, assisted by the USC Trojan Marching Band; a fireworks show to accompany the concluding “1812” Overture, and a program also offering “Capriccio Italien,” the First Piano Concerto and the Overture-Fantasy “Romeo and Juliet.” Near-capacity audiences counted at 17,781 (Friday) and 17,726 (Saturday) again responded vociferously--and by rolling wine bottles down the concrete steps.

Navarro can favor slow tempos, but he never falls into traps of dullness. His reading of “Capriccio Italien” at the beginning of the Friday performance elicited splendid and balanced playing from the Philharmonic. And his way with the “Romeo” Fantasy, if not magical, nevertheless savored the contrasts of mood and dramatic thrust of the familiar piece.

The only disappointments in the “1812” Overture were not instrumental--the combined orchestras and marching band operated in happy unity--but mechanical. Early entrances and other mistimings in the fireworks episode spoiled the pleasures usually associated with that noisy and smoky finale.

Engerer, although she seemed overdressed in a glitzy, multicolored (mostly fuchsia and pink) gown resembling nothing so much as the flag of Copacabana, brought fresh excitement and Russian-style passion to the B-flat-minor Concerto, which she played, if not effortlessly, at least with a rising sense of occasion. The large Friday audience, which had giggled at first sight of the dress, cheered her at the conclusion.