Dance and Music Reviews : Los Angeles Emigre Orchestra at Ebell

The Los Angeles Emigre Virtuoso Orchestra is more emigre than virtuoso, as Sunday night’s hodgepodge program in Wilshire Ebell Theatre amply demonstrated. Still, under the no-nonsense guidance of music director Armen Garabedian, it’s a solid ensemble capable of making its musical points when given the chance. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much of a chance.

Soloists dominated the evening. Violinist Daniel Shindaryov offered the Violin Concerto No. 4 by Paganini, a work that has little to do with music, more to do with empty virtuosic display.

Although Shindaryov handled much of its finger-twisting, bow-bending technicalities with impressive dexterity, there were enough rough edges to suggest that he (and we) might have been better off with a different piece. His cool approach proved welcome in the music’s sentimental moments, yet overall it made for uninvolving listening.

Pianist Khachik Kyurkchian, despite the occasional stumble, brought surprising bravura, decisive accents and impetuosity to Chopin’s E-minor Concerto; he also knew how to give lyrical passages strong direction and spontaneity. The orchestra accompanied dutifully and sloppily in the Paganini, with greater attentiveness and warmth in Chopin.

Garabedian began the concert with Beethoven’s “Egmont” Overture in a clean but overemphatic and constricted reading; he concluded with the romping vulgarities of Khatchaturian’s “Sabre Dance,” fleetly and pointedly played.