Pacific Chorale’s 5-Concert Season Will Feature 2 World Premieres

The Pacific Chorale will present the world premiere of a piece by music director John Alexander during its five-concert 1999-2000 season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. Alexander’s chamber work, to be named, will be performed Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

In addition, the world premiere of the orchestrated version of famed pedagogue Lili Boulanger’s “Soir sur la Plaine,” one of two pieces she wrote to win the Prix du Rome in 1913, will be presented March 12 at 7 p.m.

As a requirement for winning the prize, Boulanger had to orchestrate the work, originally published for soprano solo, chorus and piano. This orchestrated version has never been performed; in fact it has sat in the National Library of Paris since Boulanger completed it.

John Alexander will conduct all programs in Segerstrom Hall. All concerts begin at 7 p.m.

The 1999-2000 season:

* Nov. 21: Eighty members of the Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony perform Mozart’s Requiem (edition by pianist and Harvard teacher Robert Levin); Haydn’s “Lord Nelson” Mass.

* Dec. 19: Full (160-voice) chorale and the Pacific Chorale Children’s Chorus, with Pacific Symphony, perform a holiday program, including traditional carols.

* Feb. 13: John Alexander Singers: Morten Lauridsen’s “Les Chansons des Roses”; James Hopkins’ “The Rossetti Songs”; Britten’s “Five Flower Songs”; new Alexander work.

* March 12: Full chorale and Pacific Symphony perform Maurice Durufle’s Requiem; Debussy’s “La damoiselle elue”; premiere of Boulanger’s “Soir sur la Plaine” (orchestrated version).

* May 7, 2000: Full chorale and children’s chorus in an a cappella program of Frank Martin’s Mass, Ives’ Psalm 90; selections from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers; folk songs from around the world.

Subscriptions, on sale now, for all five concerts are $40 to $180; a three-concert series (Dec. 19, March 12 and May 7, 2000) is $30 to $129. Single tickets, at prices to be announced, will go on sale Sept. 20. (714) 662-2345.