Pasadena Symphony Season to Open With World Premiere

The Pasadena Symphony, conducted by music director Jorge Mester, will open its 74th season with a world premiere concert performance of the Erich Korngold arrangement of Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Oct. 20 in Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

This arrangement, created by Korngold for Max Reinhardt’s 1935 film of Shakespeare’s play, required more music than Mendelssohn had written. Korngold embellished the original with excerpts from other pieces by Mendelssohn and with music of his own, written in the earlier composer’s style.

This performance will be semi-staged, with Mester conducting and actor John de Lancie serving as creative director.

The rest of the orchestra’s eight-concert season continues with Mozart programs to be performed Nov. 10, Feb. 16 and May 11.

Soloists appearing with conductor Mester and the ensemble are clarinetist Charles Neidich (November), soprano Hila Plitmann (February) and violinist Ida Kavafian and violist Ani Kavafian (May).

Women of the Pacific Chorale will join the orchestra Jan. 19, when the program includes Debussy’s “Nocturnes” and Holst’s “The Planets.”

Violinist Elmar Oliveira will appear as soloist in Brahms’ Violin Concerto March 9. Pianist Robert Thies will play Dohnanyi’s “Variations on a Nursery Tune,” April 13, on a program also offering Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 15.

The season ends June 8 with Britten’s “Sinfonia da Requiem,” Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and, with Christopher O’Riley as soloist, Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

For information, call (626) 793-7172.