Stars to Play in Chamber Music Series

The Philadelphia Orchestra and a duo recital by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emanuel Ax will highlight the La Jolla Chamber Music Society’s two downtown music series, the society announced Monday.

Eight concerts and recitals will be presented between October and June 1990. All performances, with the exception of the appearance of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s will be at the Civic Theatre. The orchestra will play at Symphony Hall.

The society’s “International Orchestra Series” opens with an Oct. 6, performance by the Moscow Virtuosi. Made of first-chair musicians from the major Soviet orchestras, the 30-member orchestra will be led by its founder and conductor, Vladimir Spivakov.

The Orchestre National de France under conductor Lorin Maazel will play an all-Beethoven program March 13. Founded in 1934, the orchestra’s name is linked with conductors such as Wilhelm Furtwangler, Charles Munch, George Szell and Seiji Ozawa, among others.

Marking its first appearance in San Diego in 15 years, the Philadelphia Orchestra closes the “International Orchestra Series” June 1. Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov will lead the orchestra.

Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade opens the society’s “Celebrity Series” Jan. 6, at the Civic Theatre. A recipient of two Grand Prix du Disque awards and nominated for four Grammys, Von Stade has performed at major opera houses around the world.

Romanian pianist Radu Lupu will perform in recital Feb. 1. The winner of the 1967 Van Cliburn competition, Lupu is known for his interpretation of Brahms, Mozart, Beethoven and Liszt.

Hugo Wolff will direct the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on Feb. 28 with a performance by cello soloist Carter Brey.

Flutist James Galway performs with the Tokyo String Quartet on April 21.

The season finale will be the duo recital of Ax and Ma, on April 29.

Subscription tickets, which are on sale, begin at $28 for just the orchestra series alone, and are graduated up to $425 for the most expensive seats for both series.