DELAY OF SYMPHONY OPENING CANCELS 2 STAR PERFORMERS

Guest artists Pinchas Zukerman and Alicia de Larrocha, two of the biggest names on the San Diego Symphony’s 1986-87 season, are victims of the cancellation of the season’s three opening weeks. Earlier this week, when negotiations with the musicians’ union failed to produce a new contract, the symphony association announced the delay of the season’s opening to at least Nov. 13.

Zukerman, acclaimed violin and viola virtuoso as well as the music director of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, was scheduled to play the Telemann Viola Concerto and the viola solo in Berlioz’s symphonic poem, “Harold in Italy,” in a pair of concerts at Symphony Hall on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Noted Spanish pianist Larrocha had been scheduled to play the Robert Schumann Piano Concerto in four performances with the symphony, Nov. 6-9.

“There is no possibility that these artists will be rescheduled any time during the current season,” symphony spokeswoman Nancy Hafner said.

She said those holding tickets for the symphony’s opening three weeks can exchange them for any other concerts later in the season.

If the symphony association and the orchestra players reach agreement on a new contract by Oct. 27, the association will open the season Nov. 13, according to association President Herbert Solomon. That concert would be conducted by the orchestra’s music director, David Atherton, and would feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.