Modern Dance Feats and Classical Music Notes

Classical music and dance highlights, in chronological order:

* The Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa (Jan. 14): Once regarded as marginal to mainstream modern dance, Merce Cunningham has moved to the center, maintaining his seminal creativity while influencing generations of choreographers. The reason for the initial shock of his work? His unremitting focus on movement as the basis of dance--not storytelling, props, scenery or music.

* Soprano Kathleen Battle in recital, OCPAC (Jan. 30): Battle has been controversial because of alleged prima donna behavior in rehearsals, which got her bounced from the roster at the Met, but her voice and artistry remain cause to celebrate. The recital is sponsored by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County.

* The Pacific Symphony in Toru Takemitsu’s Requiem, OCPAC, (Feb. 6-7): Music director Carl St.Clair has programmed Takemitsu before (this program also includes his “From Me Flows What You Call Time”), but the Requiem will be an Orange County first. The percussion group Nexus will be part of the program, which includes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1.

* Pianist Ivo Pogorelich in recital, OCPAC (Feb. 9): Pogorelich is an artist of formidable technique and sometimes eccentric interpretation, but he’s always worth paying attention to. The recital is sponsored by the Philharmonic Society.

* Timothy Landauer as soloist in Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Pacific Symphony, OCPAC, (Feb. 26-27): Landauer is principal cellist of the Santa Ana-based orchestra and a poet of the instrument. This is his first concerto appearance with the orchestra. And about time. St.Clair will conduct.

* Daniel Barenboim leading the Vienna Philharmonic, OCPAC (March 4-5): There’s no point in playing the ratings game, but the Vienna Philharmonic has to be in anyone’s list of top five orchestras in the world. Maybe even the top three. The orchestra comes to Orange County, playing different programs each night, in an exclusive West Coast engagement sponsored by the Philharmonic Society.

* Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” OCPAC (March 15-23): Mozart specialist Klaus Donath will conduct Mozart’s dark comedy for Opera Pacific with a cast that includes his wife, Helen Donath, as Donna Anna (alternating with Brenda Harris). Mario Corradi is the stage director.

* The Mark Morris Dance Group, OCPAC (April 3-6): The company will dance “L’Allegro, Il Penseroso ed Il Moderato,” the big splashy finale Morris created during the troupe’s controversial residency at the Thea^tre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. It will be danced to a live performance of Handel’s score as part of the center’s dance season.

* Screenings of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Immigrant” (1917) and Clara Bow starring in “It” (1927), accompanied by Carl Davis’ scores, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, OCPAC (April 13): One of last year’s highlights at the center was the screening of Carl Dreyer’s 1928 silent film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” with a new score by Richard Einhorn. These two silent films may not provide a composer with the depth and drama of Dreyer’s film, but they should come alive in fascinating ways. The program, to be conducted by Jung-Ho Pak, is sponsored by the Philharmonic Society.

* Nederlands Dans Theatre 2 & 3, OCPAC (April 18-20): The main Netherlands company (NDT 1) was sensational during two previous engagements at the center. Artistic director Jiri Kylian, however, also has created two other troupes--NDT 2, an experimental group of dancers ages 17-22; and NDT 3, made up of artists over 40. The three companies, says Kylian, reflect the “three dimensions of a dancer’s life.” These two groups make their debuts at the center, offering two programs, as part of the house’s dance season.