Vonk Shows His Leadership Skills in Solid Philharmonic Program

Second of the seven guest conductors to visit the podium of the Los Angeles Philharmonic this spring, Hans Vonk, the present music director of the Saint Louis Symphony (which he brought here recently), didn’t arrive with exalted credentials or widely heralded endorsements. Yet as he demonstrated clearly over the weekend in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the 56-year-old Vonk is solid, accomplished and authoritative.

And the orchestra’s performance, heard Saturday night, confirmed Vonk’s imperturbable leadership in an exposed program consisting of Webern’s Five Movements, Opus 5, the D-minor Piano Concerto of Mozart and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, the “Great” C-major.

Without showy gestures, Vonk led these masterpieces--particularly the complex and lengthy Schubert symphony--with modest demeanor but great thoroughness. He let the orchestra regulate its broad dynamic resources and achieve climaxes naturally and forcefully. He never pushed, yet he never let up.

To start, the Dutch conductor presided over an emotionally resonant yet carefully calibrated reading of the Webern work, then gave soloist Lars Vogt a light-handed but sensitive, complete accompaniment in the concerto.

The German pianist, exactly half Vonk’s age, produced a memorable, stylish and deeply touching performance of this landmark work. With immaculate technique and an infallible musical thrust, Vogt plumbed its contents while maintaining its outward simplicity. His own first-movement cadenza proved stunning in its sweep and appropriateness; it demands to be published so that others can use it. A thrilling performance.