MUSIC REVIEW : Simonov Conducts ‘Pathetique’

Typecasting in musical repertory carries no guarantees: Sometimes a Polish pianist plays the best Chopin, sometimes not. There are moments when greatness seems to be confirmed by bloodlines, others when it falls, or appears to fall, on the unanointed, or at least the unpredicted.

Yuri Simonov, a conductor of importance from the Soviet Union, returned to Hollywood Bowl on Thursday night and led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a fascinating reading of Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony. Typecasting promised a definitive run-through; in fact, this was a disappointing performance of the “Pathetique.”

In dramatic sweep and poignant detail, it fell short of several recent accounts of the work by the Philharmonic, in particular the stunning reconsideration accomplished last year at the Wiltern Theatre by Mariss Jansons, the Leningrad-trained, Latvian-born conductor.

That performance reinstated the opening movement and finale as the emotional core of the piece, the inner portions becoming intermezzos of escapism and bravado. It placed the exact climax of the work in the wrenching final movement.

Simonov’s approach proved less convincingly paced. The 48-year-old former chief conductor at the Bolshoi Opera produced a quirky, sometimes brilliant reading, but one ultimately superficial. With Simonov’s exaggerated gestures and poses, it looks more exciting than it is. Indeed, it often plods, drags and resists forward momentum. The Philharmonic played gamely, but without expressive freedom.

Control seemed also to be the issue in the opener, Beethoven’s “Fidelio” Overture, given an unsubtle, if engaging, run-through in primary colors.

Violinist Dong-Suk Kang, replacing the indisposed Young-Uck Kim, achieved a pleasant success in the Mendelssohn Concerto, playing with unforced, if not exactly insouciant, virtuosity, and a warm, full tone. This debut behind him, the 36-year old, American-trained fiddler from Korea ought to return next in non-standard repertory.

Attendance: 13,090.