MUSIC REVIEW : Williams, Philharmonic Close Bowl Season

After a long month away, the Los Angeles Philharmonic returned to its summer place last week, just in time, in four performances of three programs, to close the 71st Hollywood Bowl season.

The final program, given Friday and Saturday nights, featured guest conductor John Williams and violinist Alexander Treger in a mixed pops agenda apparently chosen for variety rather than unity.

Pieces by Shostakovich, Chausson, Tchaikovsky, Rodgers, Alan Menken, Handel and Williams himself made up this program, performed enthusiastically by the Philharmonic under Williams’ relaxed leadership.

Soloist Treger, who usually serves as the orchestra’s concertmaster--that is, second-in-rank to Principal Concertmaster Sidney Weiss--proved as expert in the styles and intricacies of Chausson’s “Poeme” and Tchaikovsky’s “Valse-Scherzo” as he has in other solo challenges he has accepted here.

Handsome tone, comprehensive technique and a self-effacing musicianship characterized Treger’s playing of both pieces Friday night, performances rich in detail and unflappable in execution. Williams and the orchestra proved sympathetic partners to the soloist.

The other high point in this motley offering was the fireworks display that accompanied the Roy Tanabe edition of Handel’s “Royal Fireworks” Music, handiwork of Pyro-Spectaculars (Gene Evans, consultant), the performance by a Philharmonic wind band sounding particularly pristine, even understated, within this roiling visual context.

The rest was generally pleasant, especially a suite from Williams’ evocative score for the film “Far and Away,” and a rousing fanfare Williams has written, “for the 500th Anniversary of the 1492 Voyages,” called “Celebrate Discovery.”