FLUTISTS GALWAY, WILSON IN CONCERT AT EL CAMINO

In the past, Angelenos have experienced a variety of appearances by superstar flutist James Galway, including his penny-whistling with Henry Mancini and an odd collaboration with the Irish folk group the Chieftains. And, no doubt as December gets closer, selections from Galway’s Christmas album will again be piped into shopping centers everywhere.

Thursday, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of flutist Ransom Wilson, accompanied the Irish-born piper in his latest local appearance, a concert produced by the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation. A full house at El Camino College applauded warmly after every movement and got Galway to stay for one encore.

This time, he opted for a conservative, light program of Classical concertos.

Leaving an unmistakable thumb print on most of what he plays, this virtuoso is adored by many for his leprechaun-like poses, his piercing tone, frequently gushy vibrato and hamming-it-up showmanship. Indeed, in his rendition of Mozart’s Concerto in D, certain passages soared with clarity, while others emerged less idiomatic.

Wilson, who conducted steadily throughout the evening, joined Galway as flutist in Domenico Cimarosa’s Double Concerto in G. Although Wilson’s flutistry tends to be more subdued than Galway’s, the two blended and amazed with quick flurries together and in opposition.

The highlight of the evening was Giuseppe Saverio Mercadante’s Flute Concerto in E minor. Here, Galway performed a long, less-known early-Romantic work with insight and acumen, even though he showed signs of fatigue.

Wilson opened the program with a tight, energetic performance of Handel’s “Entrance of the Queen of Sheba,” and a more cumbersome reading of Haydn’s Symphony No.42.