James Galway

Among musicians who ply the classical trade there are those who settle comfortably into a routine mold and those who fan the flames of inspiration. Occasionally, however, a James Galway comes along--as the celebrity flutist did Wednesday for a recital at Hollywood Bowl--to demonstrate yet a different modus operandi. No doldrums for him. Nor any indifferent note-spinning. First and foremost, Galway is an entertainer. Pursuing his muse seems not to be his most compelling motivation.

As the summer heat and a sense of nostalgia permeated the air, the Hollywood Bowl kicked off its 87th season Friday night with a stirring, fireworks-enlivened tribute to three new inductees into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. All -- flutist James Galway, singer-guitarist B.B. King and singer-dancer-actress Liza Minnelli -- were present and ready to perform.

For 30 years, flutist James Galway has been a widely admired, even venerated, classical soloist. Yet he is also cannily aware of popular taste and has no qualms about indulging it -- even when doing so elicits sneers from purists. "Henry Mancini is a very good composer," the Northern Ireland-born Galway, who once made an entire CD of the late movie scorer's music, said recently in his lilting brogue. "But a lot of people don't realize that because of snobbery.

For 30 years, flutist James Galway has been a widely admired, even venerated, classical soloist. Yet he is also cannily aware of popular taste and has no qualms about indulging it -- even when doing so elicits sneers from purists. "Henry Mancini is a very good composer," the Northern Ireland-born Galway, who once made an entire CD of the late movie scorer's music, said recently in his lilting brogue. "But a lot of people don't realize that because of snobbery.

Flutist James Galway is ill with diverticulitis and will not perform tonight in a concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. The Tokyo String Quartet, however, will appear as scheduled, with guest artists to be announced. Ticket-holders may request refunds at point of sale until April 30. Information: (714) 646-6277.

The opening program of "Music in Time," a 16-part weekly series hosted by James Galway devoted to a history of classical music (KCET Channel 28, Sunday at 6 p.m.), pretends to be a sneak peek at what lies ahead. In reality, it is a hopeless hodgepodge of stiff performance snippets that will leave the viewer bothered and bewildered. On screen, Galway is charming--though the stuffy off-screen narrator isn't.

To get a new or newish concerto performed at the Hollywood Bowl takes, at the very least, a determined superstar soloist. Yo-Yo Ma managed it a few years ago with John Tavener's "The Protecting Veil" but he can pretty much write his own ticket, the work happened to be hugely popular with the New Age crowd, and the cellist had a new recording of it coming out on Sony.

A James Galway concert is what it is--part comedy show, part serious music-making, part circus act. But there's no need to harp on its lack of purity, its meshing of the high and low. Because there's nothing phony about it, no reaching or selling, no calculating effect, no pretensions of grandeur. Or if there is, Galway hides it well. Simply put, the man appears to genuinely enjoy playing the flute in front of an audience, joshing a bit, showing off some. Take it or leave it.

To get a new or newish concerto performed at the Hollywood Bowl takes, at the very least, a determined superstar soloist. Yo-Yo Ma managed it a few years ago with John Tavener's "The Protecting Veil" but he can pretty much write his own ticket, the work happened to be hugely popular with the New Age crowd, and the cellist had a new recording of it coming out on Sony.

Onstage Thursday at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts: a huge array of percussion instruments, two fishbowls, 15 microphones and batteries of speakers at each side of the stage. But not to worry--veteran flutist James Galway, appearing with the young Danish percussionists Uffe Savery and Morten Friis, who perform under the name of the Safri Duo, would offer the most mild, middle-of-the-road program imaginable. Musical interest peaked in only two technologically low-keyed places.

Instrumental virtuosity, such as the type that James Galway commands, can be a mixed blessing. It certainly proved to be in the popular flutist's latest local recital, Saturday at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts. On the one hand, Galway's famed technique allowed him to leap all technical hurdles with the greatest of ease.

A James Galway concert is what it is--part comedy show, part serious music-making, part circus act. But there's no need to harp on its lack of purity, its meshing of the high and low. Because there's nothing phony about it, no reaching or selling, no calculating effect, no pretensions of grandeur. Or if there is, Galway hides it well. Simply put, the man appears to genuinely enjoy playing the flute in front of an audience, joshing a bit, showing off some. Take it or leave it.

All performing musicians aspire to the condition of James Galway: He has a technical mastery so complete that it makes everything look easy. That this facility didn't lead to emotional detachment or casualness in the Irish flutist's playing, as it can with some superstar soloists, was the joy of his Thursday night recital at Ambassador Auditorium, featuring sonatas by Bach and Handel.

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James Galway, showman, entertainer and also one of the world's great flutists, was up to his old tricks at Ambassador Auditorium Sunday night. Backed by the Italian string orchestra I Solisti Veneti and its distinguished founder-maestro Claudio Scimone, Galway serenaded and clowned with equal savvy and skill.

All performing musicians aspire to the condition of James Galway: He has a technical mastery so complete that it makes everything look easy. That this facility didn't lead to emotional detachment or casualness in the Irish flutist's playing, as it can with some superstar soloists, was the joy of his Thursday night recital at Ambassador Auditorium, featuring sonatas by Bach and Handel.

James Galway, showman, entertainer and also one of the world's great flutists, was up to his old tricks at Ambassador Auditorium Sunday night. Backed by the Italian string orchestra I Solisti Veneti and its distinguished founder-maestro Claudio Scimone, Galway serenaded and clowned with equal savvy and skill.

Flutist James Galway is ill with diverticulitis and will not perform tonight in a concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. The Tokyo String Quartet, however, will appear as scheduled, with guest artists to be announced. Ticket-holders may request refunds at point of sale until April 30. Information: (714) 646-6277.