Flutist Makes S.F.-to-S.D. Commute to Play in Quintet

“Breakin’ Up Is Hard to Do” is not likely to appear on a concert given by the Arioso Wind Quintet, but the dated pop tune became the local ensemble’s theme song two years ago when its flutist Linda Lukas landed a contract with the San Francisco Symphony. After playing together for five years and winning the National Flute Assn.’s chamber music competition, Arioso had become San Diego’s most firmly established chamber group.

“They just planned to replace me,” Lukas explained in a phone interview after a San Francisco Symphony rehearsal Wednesday. After she moved, the other Arioso members began to audition flutists to take Lukas’ place if she decided to stay with the San Francisco Symphony.

“But a classical music group is almost like a marriage, and we really didn’t want to get a divorce,” Lukas said.

After several months of commuting from San Fracisco to San Diego, Lukas discovered that the arrangement was hectic but workable. She agreed to become a permanent commuter to keep Arioso intact. Last year, she made 20 trips to San Diego to maintain Arioso’s performance and rehearsal schedule.

“Having just done my income taxes, I know it was exactly 20 trips,” she quipped.

Next week Lukas will be chalking up more frequent-flyer miles when she comes to San Diego to join Arioso for four gigs around the county, culminating in a Friday evening concert at Point Loma Nazarene College’s Brown Chapel. Typical of the group’s stylishly eclectic programming, on Friday they will play Lalo Schifrin’s tango-inspired suite “La Nouvelle Orleans,” an arrangement of Lecuona’s pop standard “Malaguena,” as well as Jean Francaix’s serious 1987 Second Wind Quintet.

One of the reciprocal benefits of Lukas’ move to the San Francisco Bay Area has been Arioso’s first performances in Northern California. Last year, the ensemble’s northbound tour included a concert on the San Francisco Symphony’s prestigious Sunday afternoon series, and next year Arioso is booked for four separate forays to Stockton, Yreka, San Jose and Burlingame.

“The other members of the quintet keep hinting that I need to get a house with four bedrooms to put everyone up when they’re on tour up here,” Lukas said. She added that the only real change the group has made since her move--other than exceedingly careful scheduling--has been a change in rehearsal style.

“When we were all in San Diego, we became accustomed to having pretty leisurely rehearsals. Now we have to prepare everything in short spurts.”

When Arioso began, three of the members, including Lukas, played in the San Diego Symphony. Arioso bassoonist Dennis Michel and French horn John Lorge are both first-chair players with the local orchestra. Arioso oboist Peggy Michel is principal oboe with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and Arioso clarinetist Marian Liebowitz coordinates the woodwind program at San Diego State University.

Lukas said she misses the camaraderie of the San Diego Symphony, especially the closeness of the wind section.

“I really miss working with (principal flute) Damiam Bursill-Hall; we had a rapport that doesn’t come along very often.”

The San Francisco Symphony, however, has offered Lukas ample compensation. San Francisco’s base pay is more than twice San Diego’s, and Lukas eagerly awaits her orchestra’s tour of Asia next month.

Arioso plays at Scripps’ Hospital, La Jolla, March 31 at 3 p.m.; San Diego State University’s Smith Recital Hall, April 1 at noon; Palomar College, April 2 at 12:30 p.m., and Point Loma College ‘ s Brown Chapel, April 3 at 8 p.m.

Talmi honored. KFSD-FM, the local classical music station, last week payed tribute to San Diego Symphony music director Yoav Talmi by bestowing him with the station’s annual Beethoven award. The Israeli conductor was cited for his leadership and cultivation of the orchestra during his two years as music director. Kingsley McLaren, KFSD-FM program director, presented the award after the intermission of the March 19 Copley Symphony Hall concert. Last year’s recipient of the award was Celedonio Romero, paterfamilias of North County’s celebrated Romero family of classical guitarists.

Long Beach connection. The intrepid Fallbrook Music Society brings back maestra JoAnn Falletta and the Long Beach Symphony to Fallbrook’s Bowers Auditorium Sunday at 4:30 p.m. The number of visiting orchestras playing San Diego has significantly diminished in recent years, although the Moscow Philharmonic visits Copley Symphony Hall April 12 and the La Jolla Chamber Music Society promises to bring down the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a one-night stand next season. The Fallbrookers, however, have signed Long Beach for three visits this season. Sunday’s concert includes John Walz in Victor Herbert’s Second Cello Concerto and three excerpts from Wagner operas: “Prelude and Love Death,” “Magic Fire Music” and “Siegfried’s Rhine Journey.” Concert information: 728-5114.