The catch-all title for the series seems both portentous and pretentious: Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A Festival Celebrating Chinese Culture. But the concert at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday managed to stop short of gaudy grandeur. 

Mannered finesse: Lang Lang

It was a stellar event, to be sure, with the irrepressible Lang Lang tickling what could have been a thousand ivories, none less than Michael Tilson Thomas manning the podium with characteristic flair, and a seasoned pair of operatic masters, Anne Sofie von Otter and Gregory Kunde, adding vocal allure. Still, the orchestra comprised eager students from Juilliard, and the best seat in the big house cost only $59, the worst $22. Although the audience applauded in mood-shattering places – until properly shushed by the conductor – it mattered little. Youthful enthusiasm meant more in this context than rote sophistication.

The zigzagging programme began with Lou Harrison’s The Family of the Court (1963), a rip-snorting overture that bangs with brazen beauty for five exotic minutes. Next came a backward-glancing collection of dreamy-folksy miniatures by He Luting, Lü Wencheng and Sun Yiqiang – plus good old “traditional” – all played by Lang Lang with brilliantly mannered finesse. This led to a world premiere, Er Huang by Chen Qigang, which demanded much of Lang Lang and little of the orchestra. Although the composer, born in 1951, studied with Messiaen, his meandering rumble and surging schmaltz suggest the push-button pathos of movie music.

After the interval, Tilson Thomas turned to the glorious Germanic Chinoiserie of Mahler’s Lied von der Erde. He demonstrated a sure grasp of the sprawling architecture, obvious concern for intimate detail, careful attention to cumulative shades of dramatic indulgence. He had some trouble getting the Juilliard kids to play softly, but, more important, no trouble focusing cohesion, flexibility and virtuosity in depth. Kunde sang the tenor solos with welcome power and sensitivity, unfazed by the high tessitura. Von Otter’s lyric mezzo-soprano sounded exquisitely poignant so long as the line did not dip too low.

All in all, a nice east-meets-west mishmash.

Series continues until November 10, tel +1 212 247 7800