By Mandy Katz The Israel Philharmonic must be the most relaxed symphony orchestra in the world. Really, some of these musicians literally lean back in their chairs while they play. Others sway, and I caught a trombone player whispering with the timpani guy at one point. (Those guys in the back have some really loooooong rests.) And the resulting sound? Gorgeous. So in sync was the ensemble — performing Mendelssohn and Brahms for a packed house Tuesday night at Washington's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — that they gave the impression of playing just for the joy of it in somebody's (very large) living room. In the familiar "Italian" symphony by Mendelssohn, especially, it seemed the conductor could have walked off stage and the orchestra contentedly continued on their own. That's not to discount the influence of this...

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