Hollywood drama: Cue the violinist

Fans of charismatic violinist Joshua Bell and fans of the movies came together at the Los Angeles Philharmonic concert Thursday in Walt Disney Concert Hall as Bell played the West Coast premiere of John Corigliano’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (“The Red Violin”). The program, led by associate conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya, also included works by Bernstein and Elgar.

Although not as complex as the plot of Francois Girard’s 1998 film -- which traces a blood-stained violin across three centuries and several continents -- the concerto has its own interesting story.

The work doesn’t exist in the movie. Rather, there are fragments and themes meant to suggest the existence of a longer piece. Corigliano, who was to win an Oscar for the film score, drew upon the music even before the film was released for a 17-minute concert piece called “The Red Violin: Chaconne for Violin and Orchestra.”

Bell, who played the music in the movie, gave the world premiere of that work in 1997 with the San Francisco Symphony. Elizabeth Pitcairn played the Southern California premiere in 2000 at an outdoor concert with Victor Vener and his enterprising California Philharmonic.

The Chaconne, a formal set of variations on a constantly repeated pattern of chords, became the first movement of the new Concerto. It is followed by a scherzo, a lullaby and a virtuoso finale. The 38-minute work was played last year by the Baltimore, Dallas and Atlanta symphonies.

It would be hard to imagine a finer or more committed advocate for this music than Bell. He played Thursday as if possessed, spinning out lines of warmth and eloquence and surmounting technical hurdles with ease. The work itself, however, tends to dissipate its energy and drama. Even so, Corigliano, who was on hand, received enthusiastic applause.

“Fancy Free” wasn’t a movie, but it was a very successful ballet that remains popular and that inspired the movie “On the Town.” Choreographed in 1944 by Jerome Robbins to an exciting score by Leonard Bernstein, it concerns three sailors on a 24-hour shore leave looking for girls.

It was conceived in an age of irrecoverable innocence, and the music is full of insouciance and character. But Harth-Bedoya might have taken some tips from a performance of the ballet. He led a square, note-accurate account, more abstract symphonic poem than energized dance suite.

Elgar’s “Enigma Variations,” a series of character vignettes that Harth-Bedoya conducted from memory and that the Philharmonic played sumptuously, emerged with more of its passion and drama intact.

It might be the basis for a great movie.

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Los Angeles Philharmonic

Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., L.A.

When: Today and Sunday, 2 p.m.

Price: $15-$120

Contact: (323) 850-2000