How busy are the Boston Pops this time of year? Consider that on Friday night, at the very same time that they were playing in Symphony Hall, they were also in Worcester. That’s the kind of holiday magic that you can pull off when you’re America’s Orchestra.

While Keith Lockhart and his contingent were off in Central Massachusetts, it was up to guest conductor Brian Eads to hold down the fort in the Pops’ home turf going into the first weekend of Holiday Pops performances. He brought a wide-eyed and eager energy to a program where “wide-eyed and eager” is practically a necessity.

The concert began instead with Beethoven’s “Welten singen,” which was more reliant on sawing and leaping strings than triumphant brass that typically kicks off Holiday Pops concerts. It was followed by the swayi

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