A Large-Scale Journey

A raging chaos of a violin concerto, at once fragmented and free-flowing, Sofia Gubaidulina’s “Offertorium” (1980) grips the listener through 35 harrowing minutes of hyperactivity.

And the large-scale work achieved that same compelling result when it had its Los Angeles premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Thursday night by violinist Martin Chalifour, guest conductor Alan Gilbert and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

It is a wondrous piece for its integration of drama and calm, of distraction and focus, and for the continuity of its ideas. It is reminiscent, in its resonant tintinnabulations, of the 20th century styles of Bartok and Messiaen, yet strikingly contemporary in its evocation of the tinkling sounds of Asian rituals. But the fierceness is Russian, and unmistakably Gubaidulina. Steven Stucky’s pre-concert comments rightly noted many “magic” moments in this thrilling piece, which mesmerizes as often as it surprises.

“Offertorium” was written for the quirky brilliance of Gidon Kremer, yet Chalifour made it all his own with that combination of panache, vehemence and eloquence we have come to expect. Chalifour plays with a passion that threatens to break the instrument, yet he achieves his musicality and deep communication with the effortlessness he might bring to a ditty by Dancla. He is a treasure--or have we said that before?

Gilbert, the 35-year-old American musician, probed the depths of this difficult, complex piece, with the sharp ears of an enthusiastic musical partner. The orchestra collaborated brilliantly, in particular principal cellist Andrew Shulman, who shared in the bows at the end.

Preceding the concerto, Gilbert led a transparent run-through of Anton von Webern’s orchestration of the Ricercata from Bach’s “Musical Offering,” the theme of which is the occasion for the variations in the Gubaidulina work.

Afterward, Tchaikovsky’s emotional Sixth Symphony, the “Pathetique,” turned into an anticlimax, despite a most respectable, even brilliant, performance, led energetically by Gilbert, and realized wholeheartedly by the orchestra.

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The Los Angeles Philharmonic repeats this program tonight at 8 in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. $12-$78, (323) 850-2000.