MUSIC REVIEW : Piano Works Start Beethoven Series

Over the years, over the decades, even, the Los Angeles Philharmonic has offered to its subscription audiences both winter and summer a distinguished parade of soloists playing the cycle of piano concertos by Beethoven.

Rubinstein, Ashkenazy, Brendel, Lupu and Dichter were among the pianists in this parade; each left an individual mark on the memories of listeners fortunate enough to hear their performances.

In ways general and specific, Emanuel Ax, who began his cycle of the five concertos with conductor David Zinman and the Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl on Tuesday night, is an appropriate successor to these historical colleagues--four of whom are still alive, and not old. If Ax’s musical achievements, at 41, remain less exalted than those of some of his peers, his perspectives still deserve airing and his readings our careful attention.

In his playing of the C-major and C-minor Concertos at the first program Tuesday night, Ax did not startle with novelty or conquer with boldness. Instead, he persuaded with modesty.

His workmanlike approach to Opus 15--including a handsome and probing consideration of the Largo--proved stylistically placed and competent, but largely undistinctive.

His slightly more energetic reading of the Third Concerto blossomed most strongly--again--in the central slow movement, but exhibited little of impassioned rhetoric in the opening Allegro con brio, or of wit and humor in the finale.

Ax’s achievements, then, seemed mostly earthbound, if considerable. He continues to play the piano with the reliability and professionalism of a worthy veteran--but he seldom lifts the experience above the mundane.

Zinman’s collegialism, with an attentive and well-tuned--despite uncomfortable humidity in Cahuenga Pass on this evening--proved complete, balanced and stylish. He and the orchestra began the program in rich voice, with a vigorous run-through of the “Prometheus” Overture.

Incidentally: In the concertos, Ax played Beethoven’s own cadenzas; and 9,180 listeners attended this concert.