Conductor Jaap van Zweden is a remarkably clear and musically intense presence on the podium. "Remarkably clear," in fact, describes the entire performance by van Zweden and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on Friday night at Powell Symphony Hall.

Van Zweden, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, led the SLSO in one work new to the orchestra and two that were familiar.

Dutch composer Johan Wagenaar (1862-1941) isn't well known today, but on the evidence of his lively, thoroughly Romantic Overture to "Cyrano de Bergerac," he deserves a wider hearing. It has the sound of something by a slightly less cynical Richard Strauss, a luxuriously orchestrated tone poem that paints a delightful but hardly superficial portrait of Edmond Rostand's best-known character.

Van Zweden was thoroughly engaged in the score, bringing out every aspect of the big-beaked soldier-poet-lover as musically portrayed by Wagenaar with humor and drama alike. It was a terrific ride, with the orchestra totally connected to the man on the podium.

For a complete contrast — in all but musical clarity — "Cyrano" was followed on the program by Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major. The soloist was the young German pianist Martin Helmchen (b. 1982), making his SLSO debut. Helmchen has a beautifully delicate touch and superb interpretive skills that are well beyond his years.

Helmchen, van Zweden and the orchestra were definitely on the same wavelength and perfectly attuned to one another's music-making. This particular concerto depends on the soloist being a good colleague, and Helmchen eschewed unnecessary histrionics in favor of musical teamwork.

Because Mozart's first movement cadenza for No. 25 has not survived, it's soloist's choice. Helmchen performed one by Martin Hecker, filled with complexity, a certain dramatic ambiguity and a decidedly Romantic flavor.

The second movement was all Classical clarity, while the third — as befits music adapted from a dance in Mozart's opera "Idomeneo" — perfectly captured the mixture of joy with more serious undertones of the composer's mature music.

Van Zweden led a stirring performance of Brahms' Symphony No. 4 in E minor for the second half. His gestures ranged from the gentle and balletic to the supercharged, with occasional levitations from the podium.

From a majestic survey of the opening movement, van Zweden led a moving reading of the second, serious without being too heavy.

The third had suitable sonic richness, but it also suffered some apparent ambiguity as the conclusions of some quiet phrases seemed to peter out. Absolute certainty was back, though, as the score returned to the fortissimo of the movement's end.

Van Zweden launched immediately into the fourth movement with full Romantic abandon. Despite some moments of sonic stodginess in the slow section, it was overall a satisfying reading, with precision where some conductors would let the strings go smudgy, and a fine conclusion to the whole.

Jaap van Zweden and SLSO

Where • Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand Blvd.

When • 3 p.m. Sunday

How much • $25 to $112

More info • www.stlsymphony.org or 314-534-1700