St. Petersburg Philharmonic Honors Rachmaninoff : Classical music: Russia’s oldest orchestra keeps cultural connections through touring, despite recent turmoil.

With all the recent political turmoil and violence in Moscow, one had to wonder if the St. Petersburg Philharmonic concert scheduled for Sunday in Costa Mesa would take place--and worries did not abate when a caller found phone lines to St. Petersburg constantly busy.

Finally, though, a connection was made around midnight St. Petersburg time, and the orchestra’s associate principal conductor, Mariss Jansons, was happily assuring that there was “no problem.

“We were a little afraid that there would be some violence in St. Petersburg,” Jansons said in perfect English. “But the situation is much better. It’s calming down, and it doesn’t impact on the tour. Everything is past.”

Formerly the Leningrad Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg is the oldest orchestra in Russia, tracing its roots to 1882. Jansons will conduct works by Rossini and Rachmaninoff, including Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” with Dmitri Alexeev as the piano soloist. The program, sponsored by the Orange County Philharmonic Society, is heavy on Rachmaninoff because 1993 is the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death.

“It’s the Rachmaninoff Jubilation Year,” Jansons said. “We were asked to bring Rachmaninoff.”

Jansons, 50, has been with the orchestra for 22 years, having worked his way up to his present post. Yuri Temirkanov is music director and principal conductor.

Born into a musical family in Riga, Latvia, Jansons said he never doubted while growing up that he someday would conduct. “I have photos of when I was 3 years old, and I was playing as if I were a conductor already. I’m standing with a baton over an open book as if it were a score. My parents did not pressure me. It came of itself.”

He studied at the Leningrad Conservatory and in 1971 won the International Herbert von Karajan Foundation Competition. Since 1979, he has also been music director of the Oslo Philharmonic, and last year he took on a third position, principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic.

He says he feels that the breakup of the Soviet Union has resulted in some serious pluses and minuses. On one hand, the orchestra no longer has to fork over so much of the box office “to the state. Now we can keep this money to ourselves. It’s a big advantage” because the orchestra can travel more often, which is “especially important.

“Touring brings money,” Jansons said flatly. “Organizations that tour are in a much better economic situation.”

But on the downside, the breakup has led to a brain and talent drain. “Many people want to leave the country. Living in Russia and not going abroad, you could get into difficulties. Everything is very expensive. If you don’t own foreign money, it’s difficult to live. So people sign contracts and work abroad.

“What I want to stress is that we are losing the good teachers. Many very good people have already left the country. It’s dangerous for the next generation, and it’s not only in music but generally. You don’t feel it immediately because this is a slow process. But there is no doubt to me that there is danger.”

Still, he added, “even in difficult economic situations, people still have an interest in enjoying the arts, because they want some spiritual life. This is what keeps them going. That is very positive.”

* The Orange County Philharmonic Society will present the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, conducted by Mariss Jansons, playing works by Rossini and Rachmaninoff, on Sunday at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Curtain: 3 p.m. $17 to $45. (714) 553-2422.