MUSIC REVIEW : Schwarz, Peskanov Go Baroque at Bowl

Vivaldi’s ubiquitous “Four Seasons” are not quite the lightweight knock-offs many programmers seem to believe them to be. That much, at least, violinist Mark Peskanov, conductor Gerard Schwarz and a rusty contingent of the Los Angeles Philharmonic demonstrated Wednesday in the second preseason concert at Hollywood Bowl.

Peskanov was a very late replacement for Leonidas Kavakos, who had been called home to Greece by a family emergency. That, no doubt, accounted for much of Peskanov’s roughness and lack of focus.

The Ukrainian-born violinist tackled his four-part challenge with ready and even flashy technique, a mainstream, modern-instrument approach to style and cheerful aplomb in the face of ensemble adversity.

He also seemed to have ideas about differentiated character for the concertos, which he was only able to express fully in a crisp, bravura “Winter.” Bowing proved Peskanov’s most individual resource Wednesday, as he introduced some tricky up-bow teasers into Vivaldi’s patterns.

Schwarz and the Philharmonic musicians accompanied with spirit, but found it difficult to stay with their mercurial soloist. Ensemble edge frayed consistently, sometimes just short of unraveling completely. The best work here too came in “Winter,” with a specially imaginative continuo contribution from harpsichordist Zita Carno.

The collective effort got a little tighter in the Suites in F and D of Handel’s “Water Music.” The orchestra still seemed sluggish at times, though capable of turning some tidy ornaments in Schwarz’s elegant scheme.

Orchestral soloists--particularly oboist Barbara Winters and the trumpets and horns, led by Donald Green and William Lane--went an agreeable step further, with fluent, contextually pertinent embellishment.

Attendance: 8,916.