L.A. CHAMBER SURVIVES FISCAL CRISIS

The financially troubled Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has survived a recent monetary crisis and will give its 1985-86 season as scheduled, The Times learned Thursday.

Thanks in part to a pass-the-hat campaign among the ensemble’s board members, “a significant portion” of an accumulated $180,000 deficit had been raised, executive director Robert Elias said. “We just couldn’t conceive of the orchestra folding.”

The decision on the orchestra’s fate was originally due July 31, when the 1984-85 fiscal year ended. However, the board extended the deadline while it sought ways to erase the deficit. “There was great reluctance (among board members) to make a decision that might damage the orchestra. We had to wait until there was enough fruit (cash and pledges),” Elias said.

Last month, Elias said that “the orchestra could fold” as a result of the debt. In response, members of the board of directors volunteered pledges totaling about $120,000, according to assistant treasurer David Gersh. At a meeting Monday, the finance committee reported that the orchestra could move forward with the new season.

How real was the prospect of the ensemble going under? “As real as the nose on your face,” Elias commented. “Still,” he cautioned, “we are not completely out of the woods. We have to deal with operating expenses for the coming year.”

Nonetheless, Elias was confident that the deficit will not be increased. “In fact, at the end of next season, we are expecting a surplus of around $50,000, which will go toward eliminating the debt.”

In an effort to cut expenses, the orchestra will reduce the season to 38 concerts. The schedule last season listed 50 dates (contrasted with 40 the previous year). The drop includes the cancellation of four previously announced appearances at UCLA.

The orchestra will present two series at Ambassador Auditorium, opening Oct. 12 with Gerard Schwarz on the podium, beginning his final season as music director. In addition, the ensemble will present series at the Embassy Auditorium and in Claremont, Santa Ana, El Cajon and Santa Barbara.

Schwarz will conduct five programs, with guest conductors Robert Bernhardt, Alexander Schneider, Kenneth Jean and Anthony Newman leading the remaining events.

Repertory leans heavily toward the baroque in general, Bach in particular, although the season will open with a new work by David Stock (Oct. 12-13) and close with one by William Kraft (May 31). Schwarz will conduct Bach’s Mass in B minor (Oct. 16), Bernhardt the “Brandenburg” Concertos (Dec. 14 and 18) and the Bach Soloists will perform a Bach program (Nov. 20-21). Schneider has chosen a Vivaldi agenda (Jan. 22-23), Jean will conduct music of Purcell, Handel, Vivaldi and Bach and sons (Feb. 19-20), while Newman will lead works by Handel, Bach and Leclair (March 19-20).

Soloists include pianists Gary Graffman (Oct. 12-13) and Bella Davidovich (May 1 and 3), violinist Dmitri Sitkovetsky (April 12), soprano Lucy Shelton (Oct. 12-13) and countertenor Paul Esswood (Feb. 19-20). Vocal soloists in Bach’s B-minor Mass will be Maurita Phillips-Thornburgh, Marilyn Savage, Paul L. Johnson and Dale Morich.