Garden Grove Symphony to Offer 2 Guest Conductors for First Time

Two guest conductors will take turns at the helm of the Garden Grove Symphony during the 1989-90 season as part of an ongoing conductor-exchange program, officials announced Thursday.

This is the first time that anyone other than Garden Grove music director Edward Peterson will lead the orchestra through an entire concert.

Ivan Spassov, music director of the Pazardzhik (Bulgaria) Philharmonic, will open the season on Oct. 21 with a program that will feature three U.S. premieres, including one of his own pieces and works by compatriot composers Pantcho Vladigerov and Petko Stainov. Works by Mozart and Borodin will complete the program.

Spassov’s appearance is part of a conductor-exchange program between the two orchestras. Peterson conducted the Pazardzhik in December.

Philippe Bender, music director of the L’Orchestre Regional de Cannes-Provence Alpes Cote d’Azur, will be next to lead the Garden Grove Symphony on Feb. 24, 1990, in a program including works by Franck and Berlioz.

The orchestra’s budget will increase from $224,000 this year to $300,000 for 1989-90, orchestra general manager Yaakov Dvir said. The group will break even financially when the current season ends on June 10, Dvir added.

For the first time also, the orchestra will separate its classical series from its pops series. Both sets of concerts will be presented at 8 p.m. at the Don Wash Auditorium in Garden Grove. Peterson will conduct both pops programs.

A recital series consisting of three programs will be announced later.

In addition, the orchestra will offer a non-subscription New Year’s Eve program, featuring jazz pianist Mike Garson, on Dec. 31, 1989.

Season tickets for the 1989-90 classical series range from $36 to $72 before June 10. After that, prices will increase from $40 to $80. Tickets for children, students and seniors are $28 at all times.

Season tickets for the pops series will be $18 to $36 before June 10 and $20 to $40 thereafter. Tickets for children, students and seniors will be $14.

Tickets for the New Year’s Eve program will be $20 for the concert only; $49 for the concert and the party that follows.

The orchestra also announced that its annual “Summer Symphony in the Park” will be on Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Village Green Park, Euclid and Main Street in Garden Grove. The outdoor concert will include works by Brahms, Copland, Leonard Bernstein and Grofe, and will close with Tchaikovsky’s “1812” Overture, with cannons.

Information: (714) 534-1103.

The 1989-90 classical season:

--Oct. 21: “When East Meets West”: Spassov, conductor; Vicki Anglin, cello: Spassov’s Concerto for Solo Cello and Orchestra; Vladigerov’s Bulgarian Rhapsody; “Rachenitza” from Stainov’s Thracia Suite; Mozart’s Divertimento in F; “Polovtsian Dances” from Borodin’s “Prince Igor.”

--Feb. 24, 1990: “A French Gala”: Bender, conductor; pianist to be announced: Overture to Berlioz’s “Benvenuto Cellini”; Franck’s Symphony in D minor; piano concerto to be announced.

--April 21: “A Night at the Opera”: Peterson, conductor; Celeste Tavera, soprano; Dennis McNeil, tenor: Overture to Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”; Suite from Bizet’s “Carmen”; excerpts from works by Verdi, Bizet, Strauss and Lehar.

--June 2: “Sounds of Shakespeare”: Peterson, conductor; actors from the Grove Shakespeare Festival: Overture to Weber’s “Oberon,” Overture to Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy; works by Verdi, Walton and Bernstein.

The pops series:

--Dec. 16, 1989: “Christmas Vignettes”: Thurl Ravenscroft, narrator: Seasonal selections.

--March 17, 1990: “Hooray for Hollywood”: works by Barber, John Williams and Vangelis.