British Show Full of U.S. Staples

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra’s programs over the weekend were theoretically devoted to things British, but until the Los Angeles Scots Pipe Band marched in, it was very much business as usual. Conductor John Mauceri and Welsh teen sensation Charlotte Church relied on American films and music theater for most of the agenda, and a familiar lineup at that.

Now 15, Church began attracting attention as a preteen and made her Bowl debut two years ago. Much of the wonder at her advent came from the apparent incongruity between her age and her voice.

On Friday she pleaded jet lag near the end, and troubles with vocal support and integration suggested she may not have been in her best voice. Most distinctive were her two folk songs, “My Lagan Love”--gracefully accompanied by harpist Mindy Ball--and “The Water Is Wide.” Video of those onstage was shown on new screens to either side of the shell. A survey was distributed soliciting audience reaction to the screens, which neatly tracked the instrumental progression through Britten’s “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.” The playing was not quite so tidy, but zesty enough, with narration from Church.

Mauceri and the Bowl Orchestra gave jaunty accounts of Walton’s “Crown Imperial” and Korngold’s overture from “The Seahawk,” plus Alfred Newman’s tender “How Green Was My Valley.” Saxophonist Dave Koz stole as much of the show as a saxophonist with one number could, gliding with simmering eloquence through John Barry’s theme from “Body Heat.”

At the end, the well-drilled pipe band entered to “Scotland the Brave.” Then Mauceri returned in kilt to accompany the ensemble in traditional jigs. “Colonel Bogey March” was the encore, with the audience lustily whistling along .