It’s ‘Biggest Season’ for Philharmonic

The world premiere of Tan Dun’s concerto from the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”--with the composer conducting--and the United States premiere of filmmaker Hal Hartley’s “Soon,” commissioned by the Salzburg Festival, will highlight the 2001-2002 season presented by the Philharmonic Society at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

The season is already distinguished by the engagement of both the Berlin and the Vienna philharmonics and the Southern California premiere of Rameau’s “Platee,” as staged and directed by Mark Morris, all previously announced.

“This is our biggest season ever,” executive director Dean Corey said Thursday. “To have the Berlin and Vienna philharmonics in the same year, there isn’t any place outside New York for that to happen within recent memory.

“The Tan Dun project is something we’ve been working on for some time. He’s rewritten the music for the film, so actually this version of the score--with him conducting--will be a world premiere.

“What makes Hal Hartley’s ‘Soon’ so intriguing is that he’s a brilliant film director, but this is his first play. He’s also composed the music that goes with it. He’s totally restaging it from the Salzburg production. We’re anticipating an amazing work.”

Other highlights include a concert by Greek singer Haris Alexiou, pianist Marino Formenti playing a recital of 20th century works and pianist Alfred Brendel in recital.

“Alfred Brendel is my favorite pianist,” Corey said. “We presented him more than 20 years ago but have not had him since. It’s been a private goal of mine to engage him.”

Other concerts will be announced in April.