POP/ROCKAnother Record: With the addition of two...

POP/ROCK

Another Record: With the addition of two new shows that sold out within an hour on Tuesday, Barbra Streisand has set a record for concert grosses at a single stand, ringing up $16.6 million in ticket sales for her Madison Square Garden performances. Streisand topped her own previous record of $13.7 million set over the New Year’s holiday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. Other top grossers included the Rolling Stones’ 1989 stand at New York’s Shea Stadium ($11.6 million) and Bette Midler’s Radio City Music Hall shows in 1993 ($11.1 million).

THE ARTS

Domingo Deal Set: International opera star Placido Domingo was officially named artistic director of the Washington Opera in an arrangement that will allow him to continue touring as an entertainer. Officials at both the Washington company and the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, where Domingo serves as artistic consultant and frequently appears as both conductor and leading man, said that that relationship would remain unchanged. At a news conference formalizing the tenor’s new appointment, officials said Domingo, 53, will officially replace the retiring Martin Feinstein for four years starting July 1, 1996. But he will begin planning the 1996-97 season immediately. “I will plan to sing in every season, if allowed,” Domingo said, adding that he has always had a dream to direct his own company. “I don’t know how many more years I will be singing,” he said. In Los Angeles, Domingo is scheduled to sing five nights of “Otello” next May, in addition to a concert and conducting dates not yet announced.

MOVIES

Royal Honors: Director Robert Wise, who won Academy Awards for “The Sound of Music” and “West Side Story,” has been appointed a “Knight in the Order of Leopold” by Belgian King Albert II. The distinction, which recognizes Wise’s lifetime achievement in the film industry and the “international acceptance” of his movies, will be formally bestowed July 28 during a ceremony at Los Angeles’ Belgian consulate. Wise received a National Medal of the Arts from former President George Bush in 1992.

* Film Fest News: Ticket sales for last weekend’s opening of the 1994 AFI International Film Festival at Laemmle’s Monica Theatres were up 30% over last year, festival officials said, including sell-out crowds for tributes to actor-director Dennis Hopper and Oscar-winning actress Holly Hunter. The two-week festival in Santa Monica has also added Italian director Lina Wertmuller’s new comedy, “Ciao Professore!,” to its schedule, with screenings Tuesday at 3:50 and 9 p.m.

TELEVISION

UCLA New Network Monitor: UCLA’s Center for Communication Policy has been selected by CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox to monitor and analyze TV violence on the four networks. In an agreement that is to be officially announced in Washington today by Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill.), the center will issue reports assessing the level of violence in network entertainment programming. Along with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the UCLA center in January co-hosted the “Superhighway Summit,” which featured appearances by Vice President Al Gore and FCC Chairman Reed Hundt.

RADIO

KCRW Starts Japanese Series: KCRW-FM (89.9) will premiere its 14-part series “Contemporary Japanese Short Stories” on Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with Broadway actor Soon-Teck Oh reading the English translation of Yukio Mishima’s “Patriotism,” which focuses on a failed 1936 Tokyo military coup. The series continues on subsequent Sundays from 7 to 8 p.m., with a special expanded Hiroshima Memorial Day broadcast Aug. 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. “Contemporary Japanese Short Stories” is directed by East West Players Repertory Theatre founder Mako. Additional cast readers include Amy Hill and Emily Kuroda.

QUICK TAKES

ABC’s “General Hospital” airs its 8,000th episode Tuesday. The show, which debuted in 1963 as a live, half-hour serial, is now in its 32nd year of broadcasting. Meanwhile, former “GH” star Antonio Sabato Jr. has been cast in a leading role in NBC’s new adventure series “Earth 2,” which premieres this fall. . . . Former NBC anchor Deborah Norville will discuss her career in TV news on CNBC’s “Al Roker,” tonight at 5.