Perick a masterful maestro in Pacific Symphony debut

No stranger to Southern California, Christof Perick nonetheless made a first appearance with the Pacific Symphony this week at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

When he was leader of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra in the 1990s, the German maestro, clearly gifted and accomplished, seemed a diffident interpreter of the standard repertory. His readings often lacked passion and projection.

But Wednesday in Segerstrom Hall, Perick displayed powers and insights that illuminated his Wagner-Mozart-Schumann program. He has become a master.

His conducting of two “Tristan” excerpts and of Schumann’s “Rhenish” Symphony showed exceptional, deep understanding of the music’s direction and details.

Subtleties and climaxes alike were clear in the “Tristan” Prelude and Liebestod, which were mellow throughout and thrilling at their conclusions.

Schumann’s pictorial canvas displayed all the composer’s many colors and facets, and the orchestra played to its highest level. These readings were rediscoveries of music we often take for granted.

On the same level of achievement, Jon Nakamatsu joined Perick and the orchestra at midconcert for a delightful, joyous performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21.

Nakamatsu, a frequent visitor to this orchestra, goes from strength to strength. His reading emerged as simple, graceful and pointed. All the deep thrills that Mozart can give were embodied. Conductor and orchestra aided immeasurably.

One quibble: Two anachronistic cadenzas, very showy, were in another musical style completely. They were amusing but should be dumped.