YOAV TALMI TO THE RESCUE

On the eve of its first American tour, which began July 22 in Michigan, the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie suddenly found itself without a music director. Gerd Albrecht had been taken ill.

A representative from the German youth ensemble made a call to Israeli conductor Yoav Talmi, who readily agreed to come to the rescue, even though he was beginning a vacation after completing his first season with the Israel Chamber Orchestra. After all, he thought, a youth orchestra, even one with such an established reputation, tends to favor the standards.

Then he got the news: Tour repertory included an early version of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3, a rarely played violin concerto by Paganini (No. 4), an excerpt from Heinz Werner Henze’s ballet “Ondine,” a violin concerto by the contemporary Soviet composer Sophia Gubaidulina and Schumann’s Symphony No. 4. With programs already printed and with the tour soloist, violinist Gidon Kremer, committed to the two concertos, the music would have to remain as scheduled.

“When they called me,” Yoav explains, “the first concert was to be three days later. I had never conducted the Paganini or the Henze, had never heard of the Gubaidulina and was familiar only with a later version of the Bruckner--which I prefer to conduct from memory.”

Talmi spent the next two days (“with hardly any sleep”) studying the music, while en route to joining the orchestra.

The pressure of learning unfamiliar repertory has eased now, as the 42-year-old conductor and the young Germans prepare to conclude their eight-concert tour with an appearance Wednesday in Hollywood Bowl (the program lists the Henze, Paganini and Schumann).

“At first it was very difficult--and not just for me,” Talmi remarks. “The orchestra had to adjust to my approach. But the chemistry worked wonderfully.”

Credit for the success of the collaboration, the conductor modestly insists, must go to the ensemble, founded in 1974 and made up of carefully selected players aged 20-26. “Their sound is comparable to the best young American groups, such as those from Juilliard or Indiana University. Most of the people wind up in major German orchestras. They have great enthusiasm, often continuing working after rehearsals have ended.”

The players’ pride in themselves is reflected in the adventurous music they play, Talmi believes: “These young people always insist on a program that would have something special to say about them.”

ALSO AT THE BOWL: Italian opera excerpts make up the agenda at the Tuesday night concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with sopranos Grace Bumbrey and Shirley Verrett sharing the stage with conductor Imre Pallo. In addition to orchestral offerings and four arias, the program lists duets from “La Gioconda,” “Anna Bolena,” “Aida” and “Norma.”

Garcia Navarro will conduct the Philharmonic on Thursday in a program of standards: Wagner’s “Fliegende Hollaender” overture, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto (with concertmaster Sidney Weiss as soloist) and Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony.

Friday and Saturday programs are devoted to the annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular. Navarro will once again conduct the orchestra, with Brigitte Engerer as soloist in the Piano Concerto No. 1. Also scheduled: “Capriccio Italien,” “Nutcracker” Suite and, of course, the “1812” Overture with assorted aural and visual accompaniment on and above the Bowl stage.

SUMMER DANCE: Jazz Tap Ensemble and the Lewitzky Dance Company will appear at Cal State Long Beach this month for what the school bills as a Summer Dance Festival. Jazz Tap will present a concert on Saturday night and a lecture/demonstration next Sunday afternoon at the University Theater. The Lewitzky company will conclude the event with a program of old and more recent works Aug. 16, also at the University Theater. The agenda: “8 dancers/8 lights,” “Suite Satie” and “Game Plan.”

Speaking of Lewitzky, the company has returned from appearances last weekend at the Pepsico Summerfare Festival in Purchase, New York. Two works by Lewitzky received their New York premieres: “8 dancers” and “Nos Duraturi.” Both pieces were first danced in Los Angeles, the former in May of this year, the latter at the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival.

PEOPLE: Ballet archivist Dwight Grell and dancer Michael Shannon will report on the fifth International Ballet Competition, completed in Moscow in June, on Wednesday morning, in the Biltmore Hotel Bowl. The presentation includes films of the gold medal winners, an exhibition of costumes, sketches and photographs from the Bolshoi Archive Collection. Information: (213) 628-8141.