Faces to watch 2003

William Bolcom

Composer

Bolcom, the subject of the Pacific Symphony’s 2003 American Composers Festival, is such a determined eclectic that he can’t be summed up easily. He’s versed in ragtime, American popular song, rock, jazz and more styles of classical music than one musician has a right to be. The wonder -- and his epic “Songs of Innocence and Experience,” the festival’s culminating work, is a wonder -- is that he makes all of it his own. Bolcom will be in residence in Orange County for the festival’s five concerts, starting Jan. 28.

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Karita Mattila

Soprano

This Finnish singer seized the spotlight in the fall when she assumed the title role in “Kat’a Kabanova” at San Francisco Opera. She sang Janacek’s music with stunning conviction and accuracy, and brought such depth to her character that it felt as though a vital secret of life were being revealed. Strauss’ “Four Last Songs,” which Mattila will sing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in March, also exposes what’s vital, but this time in the last embers of a life well lived. Singing them is a juggling act between sentiment and determination; Mattila is just such a juggler.

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Masaaki Suzuki

Artistic director

It’s strange to recall just how suspicious the early-music community establishment was when organist, harpsichordist and conductor Suzuki formed his Bach Collegium Japan in Tokyo in 1990. Then the choir and orchestra recordings started coming out, and they proved so impressive -- startlingly good intonation on period instruments; a compelling feel for Bach’s spiritual message -- that the ensemble’s discs now wind up at the top of critics’ lists. For his Los Angeles debut in April, Suzuki will go to the very heart of Bach, with the St. John and St. Matthew passions at Royce Hall.

-- Mark Swed