An Evening of High Style and Frenetic Conducting

Over the seven years he has been visiting here, conductor Eri Klas has elicited a wide spectrum of interesting and probing performances from the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Thursday night at the Hollywood Bowl, however, the versatile Estonian maestro proved inconsistent and his charges underprepared.

The program was Viennese--works of Mozart and Johann Strauss Jr., largely--and most welcome on a balmy night in Cahuenga Pass. After intermission, however, in six items by the junior Strauss and in the “Radetzky” March by his father, Johann Sr., slovenliness and a lack of clarity overtook the proceedings.

The problem, beyond a no-doubt tight rehearsal schedule, was Klas’ kinetic conducting. Without leaving the podium, he bowed, scraped, skipped, mugged and waved his arms in a noncommunicative frenzy. It was amusing, but it didn’t result in clean or clear orchestral playing. Perhaps the Philharmonic would have sung better if the conductor had danced less.

The repertory, at least, gave pleasure. It encompassed the “Gypsy Baron” Overture, the “Blue Danube” and “Roses From the South” waltzes and three polkas: “Tritsch-Tratsch,” “Pizzicato” and “Pleasure Train,” recalling Viennese nights at the Bowl in the 1960s presided over by Willi Boskovsky, among others.

After a doleful national anthem, Klas led a brisk and bright run-through of the “Nozze di Figaro” Overture, then gave firm support to 19-year-old Yuki Takao, who played Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, K. 595 with pristine calm and polished technique. Takao also took a scheduled encore--even though the applause had already subsided--returning to play an efficient version of Prokoviev’s showy Toccata. In all, Takao emerged as an alert and resourceful Mozartean who promises much.