GREAT GUESTS

I enjoyed an L.A. Philharmonic concert last month. It reminded me again that the orchestra can produce excellent performances of the standard repertoire, this time under the baton of Mikhail Pletnev. Unfortunately, such performances only seem to occur with visiting conductors including Simon Rattle and Roger Norrington, and underline the inability of Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen to demonstrate the orchestra’s fine playing in the music that most of the audience enjoys, though apparently not him.

I can therefore only deplore the decision to extend his contract, and perhaps rebuke Philharmonic Managing Director Ernest Fleischmann for the treatment of former Music Director Andre Previn.PETER MARX

Glendale