Dance and Music Reviews : Youth Symphony at Royce Hall

No one who attended the Sunday evening performance by the American Youth Symphony at Royce Hall, UCLA, could accuse Mehli Mehta of beating a dead warhorse. Nevertheless, one might question the conductor’s taste in programming.

The first half of the concert was dominated by Russian-born Michel Michelet’s Concerto for Three Violins. The neo-Romantic work suffers from emotional excess and weak, unprepared endings to each of the three movements.

Violinists Albert and Marina Markov and Eduardo Rand, substituting for the ailing Alexander Markov, performed in a suitably schmaltzy and virtuosic manner. The composer accepted polite applause for a work that was in fact written for the Markov family.

Albert Markov returned with his pupil Rand for a far more gratifying “Jota Navarra,” for two violins by Sarasate. In this showpiece for soloists, the role of the orchestra is severely limited.

The most satisfying work on the program was Prokofiev’s dynamic Third Piano Concerto. Here, James Raphael’s virtuosic, witty and sophisticated performance of the demanding solo part seemed to inspire conductor and orchestra, with stunning results. The playing was precise and intense, brought smiles to faces and cheers from members of the audience. Finally they had gotten what they came for.