By Vivien Schweitzer
Ludovic Morlot, a dynamic young French conductor whose credentials include a stint as assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and notable recent appearances with the New York Philharmonic, demonstrated his talents with a younger ensemble on Monday, eliciting a polished performance from the Juilliard Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall.
The highlight of the program was Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme.” After the German cellist Wilhelm Fitzenhagen gave the premiere in 1877, he significantly altered the score and insisted that Tchaikovsky’s publisher incorporate the changes. Tchaikovsky reportedly grumbled but said, “The devil take it — let it stand as it is.” Fitzenhagen’s version is the one now invariably performed.
