Chamber Orchestra Sets 2002-03 Season

Music Director Jeffrey Kahane will conduct five of the seven programs on the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s 2002-03 season. All concerts will originate Saturdays at 8 p.m. at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, followed by a Sunday performance at 7 p.m. in UCLA’s Royce Hall.

LACO opens its season Sept. 28-29, with violinist Hilary Hahn as soloist.

On Nov. 16-17, concertos by Locatelli, Britten and Schumann make up the agenda, Kahane conducting, with soloists Alisa Weilerstein (cello), Margaret Batjer (violin) and Roland Kato (viola). The Dec. 14-15 program features soprano Karina Gauvin, and the program offers music by Corelli, Bach, Cimarosa and Handel.

Soprano Elissa Johnston is soloist for the Feb. 8-9 concerts, when Kahane conducts and is piano soloist in Mozart’s Concerto No. 23. Concertmaster Margaret Batjer leads the March 15-16 events, a string-orchestra program offering music by Handel, Mendelssohn, Bartok, Corigliano and Beethoven/Mahler.

Guest conductor Grant Gershon and his Los Angeles Master Chorale join the orchestra April 5-6, 2003, for Handel’s “Messiah.” And the season closes May 3-4 with Kahane conducting the world premiere of John Steinmetz’s Bassoon Concerto, commissioned by the orchestra and played by soloist Kenneth Munday, with works by Mendelssohn and Haydn.

In addition, the orchestra will present pianist Kahane in a Chopin recital at the Colburn School of Performing Arts in downtown L.A. on March 8 at 8 p.m.

Information: (213) 622-7001, Ext. 215.