Pasadena Symphony to Highlight Mozart Works in 1998-99 Season

Jorge Mester will conduct all eight programs of the Pasadena Symphony’s 1998-99 season, including three Mozart evenings on Jan. 30, April 24 and June 12.

The season opens Oct. 17 in Pasadena Civic Auditorium with a program of music by Leonard Bernstein, including “Shivaree,” Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story,” Serenade for violin, strings, harp and percussion and Divertimento. Soloist is American violinist Robert McDuffie.

The program of Nov. 21 offers Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Richard Strauss’ “Metamorphosen” and Sibelius’ Second Symphony. Mozart’s Requiem, plus the Overture and Ballet Music from the opera “Idomeneo,” comprise the Jan. 30 Mozart program.

Karen Gomyo plays the Glazunov Violin Concerto on the Feb. 27 concert, on a program with Tchaikovsky’s “Francesca da Rimini,” Liadov’s “The Enchanted Lake” and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9.

Mester’s program on March 20 promises Alfven’s Swedish Rhapsody No. 1, Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (soloist: Seung-Un Ha) and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.

April 24, pianist Howard Shelley is soloist in a Mozart agenda containing the Serenata Notturna, K. 239, the Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467, and the Symphony No. 40.

Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” occupies the May 8 program, when the orchestra is joined by the Pacific Chorale and vocal soloists Christine Goerke, Kimball Wheeler, Mads Bogh-Svendsen and Paul Plishka.

The season closes June 12 with Mozart: Orchestral music from “Thamos, King of Egypt,” Violin Concerto No. 5 (soloist: Olivier Charlier) and the Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.”

Information: (626) 793-7172.