DAVOS, Switzerland – By tradition, the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, here in this Alpine hamlet, ends with a cultural night.And that night is dominated by a concert. This year, the concert was played by a local band: the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. (Well, local enough: Zurich is two hours away, and Swiss, after all.)

Perhaps the worst concert Davos has ever had was played two years ago, by the Kirov Orchestra, under Maestro Valery Gergiev. In fact, that was maybe the worst concert anyone has ever had. Not much better was the concert the year before – played by the Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra (another local band, or at least Swiss). Their conductor was James Levine. And, unlike the Kirov, they had the excuse of being a youth orchestra.

The concert two nights ago was superior to these others. But it was far from first-rate. The Zurich Chamber Orchestra was conducted by its longtime capo, Howard Griffiths, an Englishman. And they had as their soloist a young violinist born in Lithuania, but brought up in Austria: Julian Rachlin.

The Annual Meeting – a weeklong jamboree – is, of course, primarily a world-affairs event. It features heads of state, prime ministers, foreign ministers, finance ministers. Also minister ministers (e.g., clergymen). But there are cultural figures as well.

Among the musicians this year are Marin Alsop, the conductor; Bono, the one-named rocker, and global activist; Peter Gabriel, the two-named rocker, and also a global activist; and Gilberto Gil, who is not only one of Brazil’s most famous musicians, but that country’s culture minister, too.

It’s the practice of Dr. Klaus Schwab – founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum – to begin his cultural night with the handing out of awards.These are the Crystal Awards, bestowed on those “who have made a real difference in the world of arts and have reached out to other cultures …”

This year, however, the evening began with the handing out of a new, special award: to Muhammad Ali. Mr. Ali is still handsome, and very dignified, though stricken with Parkinson’s disease. For the last many years, he has been canonized as a living saint, and there was some more of this canonization here.

Mr. Ali was hailed by two men: Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador to the United States (and fearsome builder of the Saudi intelligence service); and Lord Carey of Clifton, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. Prince Turki celebrated Mr. Ali’s con version to Islam, his rejection of the draft, and other things. Lord Carey also celebrated his conversion to Islam, and other things. Lord Carey even recited some of Mr. Ali’s famous doggerel, such as “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee … ” At this, Mr.Ali – who is unable to speak – gave a quick flick of his arm. That was a delight to see.

Then his wife accepted the award for him, breaking down in tears at her mention of Mr. Ali’s muteness.

After this moving episode, Dr. Schwab dispensed his Crystal Awards – first to Shabana Azmi, an Indian actress, then to Michael Douglas. Dr. Schwab mentioned in particular the anti-nuke film Mr. Douglas made with Jane Fonda, “The China Syndrome.”

Looking more like his father than ever, Mr. Douglas gave a brief, graceful speech, at one point touching his breast pocket and saying that his cell phone was ringing: His wife was calling.

The recipient of the last Crystal Award was Brazil’s Gilberto Gil.

Then Mr. Griffiths, Mr. Rachlin, and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra had their turn. What they played was Beethoven’s Violin Concerto – which began with some of the sickliest woodwind playing you’ll ever hear. Indeed, the sound of the entire orchestra was pitiable. But Mr. Griffiths’s phrasing was smart, and his rhythm was incisive.

As for Mr. Rachlin, he played with considerable care – but that care too often turned into carefulness, which is to be avoided. He also suffered his share of technical difficulties. For example, he had a breakdown midway through the first movement, though this could have been a memory slip. Whatever the case, Mr. Rachlin recovered. His playing – for all its flaws – was purposeful. You might even call it “purpose-driven,” borrowing from the title of a hot book.

At the end of the first movement, the Davos audience burst into roaring applause.

In the slow movement, Mr. Rachlin played some notes that were entirely original to him. But he also played lovingly and songfully, as did Mr. Griffiths’s orchestra. Sometimes, however, Mr. Rachlin entered into too poetical a state (if you know what I mean). Beethoven has written the poetry into the music; there’s no need to milk it.

The last movement ought to be crisp, precise, and irresistible. It was not exactly that – but Mr. Rachlin showed some style, and the cadenza actually had a pleasing swagger. The orchestra, unfortunately, was ragged, and anemic. And on the final two notes, Messrs. Rachlin and Griffiths did something very ill-advised: They executed a big ritard. I wish I could pay violinists and conductors not to do this.

Then the orchestra had the stage to itself, for some Mozart: the Symphony No. 41 in C major, the “Jupiter.” Before starting, Mr. Griffiths commented that it was the day after Mozart’s 250th birthday – and what a joy to honor this composer, “such a great person, such a great human being.”

With that, he launched into the “Jupiter” – whose first movement was spunky, and sometimes spindly, and scratchy. Even when sounds were awful, and notes awry, Mr. Griffiths remained smart in his phrasing, and incisive in his rhythm. I’m afraid I had to leave after this first movement.

But I imagine the Davos audience gave the performance a standing ovation, just as they had done for the Beethoven concerto. Does it matter whether this closing concert – the Annual Meeting’s finale – is good or bad? No, not really. What matters is that music is so great.