L.A. Philharmonic Looks to 20th Century for 80th Season

The 80th season of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, announced Thursday, will be marked by the inauguration of “The Surprising Century,” a two-year millennial project celebrating the diversity of 20th century music; by a notable increase in American offerings; and by the second and third installments of the orchestra’s “Filmharmonic” project.

The orchestra also announced plans to return to the nation’s airwaves this spring, after a seven-year absence, with a 13-week series of radio broadcasts drawn primarily from the 1997-98 season. The shows will be produced and partially underwritten by KKGO-FM (105.1), which will air them on Tuesday nights at 8 beginning April 7. More than 150 stations will pick up the broadcasts, which are hosted by actor-composer John Rubinstein.

Among the works to be presented as part of “The Surprising Century” project are two monumental American works, Ives’ Fourth Symphony and Copland’s Third Symphony. It will also include a major John Adams orchestral piece--co-commissioned by the L.A. Philharmonic; the Ensemble Modern of Frankfurt, Germany; and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Philharmonic music director Esa-Pekka Salonen will conduct that piece, as well as the U.S. premiere of a work of his own, plus the world premiere of Roberto Sierra’s Percussion Concerto, featuring Evelyn Glennie, co-commissoned by the L.A. Philharmonic, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Casals Festival. The film/music collaborations of “Filmharmonic” will continue in October with filmmaker Renny Harlin and a yet-to-be-named composer, and in May 1999 with Jerry Goldsmith and director Paul Verhoeven.

During his seventh season with the orchestra, Salonen will be branching out, delegating works by Mahler, Messiaen and Takemitsu--composers with whom he’s closely associated--to guest conductors and tackling, for the first time with the Philharmonic, such major works of the standard repertory as Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetique” Symphony, Mozart’s “Great” Mass and Brahms’ First Symphony.

In one of the more intriguing offerings, Salonen will be on the podium for Peter Sellars’ staging of “The Soldier’s Tale,” Stravinsky’s miniature version of the Faust legend. The updated piece--now set in South-Central L.A.--was first presented at the 1992 Ojai Festival with Pierre Boulez conducting the L.A. Philharmonic. The orchestra hopes to make the production part of its community outreach program.

Among the notable guest soloists on the schedule are pianists Martha Argerich, Emanuel Ax, Wayne Marshall, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Radu Lupu and Mitsuko Uchida; violinists Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham and Hilary Hahn; violist Yuri Bashmet; and cellist Heinrich Schiff. Seven members of the Philharmonic will be featured as soloists--as will Gloria Cheng-Cochran, a local pianist who regularly performs with the orchestra.

Next season’s guest conductors include several familiar to L.A. audiences: Paavo Jarvi, Kent Nagano, Franz Welser-Most and David Zinman. Conductors making their Philharmonic debuts include Hans Vonk, music director of the St. Louis Symphony; Anne Manson; and Emmanuel Krivine.

*

In addition, the 1998-99 season will serve up two pension-fund benefit concerts. An opening gala, scheduled for Oct. 5, will feature the dual piano team of Katia and Marielle Labeque. In December, Zubin Mehta and Salonen will conduct a tribute to former Philharmonic managing director Ernest Fleischmann, who retired this month after 28 years. Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich will perform.

Two visiting orchestras are also expected: the Kirov, conducted by Valery Gergiev, and the Pittsburgh Symphony, conducted by its new music director, Mariss Jansons.

There will also be eight celebrity recitals featuring Yefim Bronfman, Richard Goode, Renee Fleming, Evgeny Kissin, Peter Serkin, Krystian Zimerman, Lupu and Shaham.

*

* For a complete 1998-99 L.A. Philharmonic schedule, call (213) 850-2000.