Symphony Adds Concert, 3 Mozart Programs

Expanding its season in 1998-99 to nine concerts (from eight) in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, the Pasadena Symphony will inaugurate a three-concert Explorer series this year devoted to music of Mozart.

Music Director Jorge Mester will conduct all of the season’s concerts, beginning Oct. 17 with a program of music by Leonard Bernstein, and listing “Shivaree,” Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story,” the Serenade for Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion (with soloist Robert McDuffie) and the Divertimento.

The three Mozart programs are scheduled Jan. 30 (“Idomeneo” Overture and Ballet Music and the Requiem, K. 626), April 24 (Serenata Notturna, K. 239, the Piano Concerto No. 21--with soloist Howard Shelley--and the Symphony No. 40), and June 12 (orchestral music from “Thamos, King of Egypt,” Violin Concerto No. 5, with soloist Olivier Charlier, and the “Jupiter” Symphony).

Information: (626) 584-8833.