PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF O.C. PACKS IN THE STARS FOR ITS 2008-09 SEASON
By Timothy Mangan
Orange County Register
Jan 24 2008
CA
The classical music presenter nabs acclaimed young conductor Gustavo
Dudamel for his Orange County debut.
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County’s 2008-09 concert season,
unveiled this week, will feature appearances by several of classical
music’s biggest names as well as a healthy sampling of its rising
talent. The nonprofit Society, the county’s oldest presenter of
classical music, now in its 55th season, imports touring orchestras,
chamber ensembles and soloists from around the world to perform in
the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and other local venues.
Firebrand Chinese pianist Lang Lang will give his first Orange County
recital to open the Society’s season on Oct. 1. His program has yet
to be announced.
The most talked about (as well as the most gushed about) man in
classical music, conductor Gustavo Dudamel, will make his Orange
County debut under the Society’s auspices, on Nov. 23. The Venezuelan
Dudamel, soon to be 27, is the music director-designate of the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, set to take the reins from Esa-Pekka Salonen
at the start of the 2009-2010 season. He’ll lead the touring Israel
Philharmonic in a program that includes Mendelssohn’s "Italian"
Symphony and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony here.
Elsewhere in its signature orchestra series, the Society will present
French conductor Stephane Deneve and the Los Angeles Philharmonic
(Jan. 23, 2009); conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco
Symphony (Jan. 28, 2009); and The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields,
with leader and violinist Julia Fischer, Gramophone magazine’s Artist
of the Year (May 2, 2009).
Conductor Valery Gergiev returns to Orange County for the first time
since the hall’s opening celebrations in 2006 to lead the London
Symphony Orchestra (for which he serves as music director) in two
programs on March 18 and 19, 2009.
Also appearing will be Operalia competition winner soprano Isabel
Bayrakdarian and the Armenian Chamer Ensemble (Oct. 5); jazz
saxophonist Branford Marsalis leading the Philharmonic Brasilianos
(Oct. 11); conductor Bernard Labadie and the period-instrument Les
Violons du Roy (Feb. 20, 2009); and conductor Derek Gleeson and the
Dublin Philharmonic performing a special St. Patrick’s Day program
(March 17, 2009).
The Orange County-based Pacific Chorale and the Los Angeles-based
period ensemble Musica Angelica join forces to perform Bach’s "St.
John Passion" (April 10, 2009) to round out the Society’s orchestra
series.
In addition to Lang Lang, recitalists include the bubbly Italian
mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli (Feb. 17, 2009) and the distinguished
American pianist Richard Goode (April 29, 2009, at Irvine Barclay
Theatre).
The Society will also present three chamber concerts in the
Orange County Performing Artscenter’s Samueli Theater, with the
Musicians from Marlboro, the Curtis Institute on Tour and the
Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio making appearances. The Brentano
String Quartet, with guest pianist Peter Serkin, will offer a
performance of a new piano quintet by Charles Wuorinen at the Irvine
Barclay Theatre as well.
Three special presentations have crossover appeal: the West African
Festival (Nov. 20), the annual Fiesta Navidad with the Mariachi Los
Camperos de Nati Cano (Nov. 29); and The 5 Browns, a team of sibling
pianists (March 2, 2009).
The Elizabeth and Henry Segerstrom Select Series continues for its
second season (the Israel Philharmonic, the first London Symphony
concert, Bartoli and Lang Lang are part of it).
Subscription packages start at $121 and range up to $3,160 (for
"The Works" series). For more information and season brochures, call
949-553-2422 or visit Single tickets
are expected to go on sale in early summer.