What to look for in ’04

When it comes to entertainment, we live in the land of plenty. To start the new year right, we offer for your consideration 52 reasons to celebrate 2004. Culled from across the region’s film, dance, music, art, sports and cultural landscape, we’ve narrowed the field. One idea for each weekend, with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall for a new take on Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” heating up January, Britney Spears blowing into town in March, Outfest redefining alternative film in July and tradition-breaking choreographer Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures in December, it’s shaping up to be an eclectically entertaining new year.

WEEKEND 1

(Jan. 1)

Witness amazing displays of tap, jazz dance and tango by Dance Theatre of Harlem, in addition to the classical dancing you’d expect from Arthur Mitchell’s company, at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Saturday and Sunday.

WEEKEND 2

(Jan. 8)

The revolutionary verve typical of the dynamic early musicker John Eliot Gardiner and his period-instrument band and singers -- Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique with Monteverdi Choir -- gussy up Haydn’s “Nelson” Mass in the uniforms of its time at UCLA’s Royce Hall Jan. 10.

WEEKEND 3

(Jan. 15)

Flip on the radio starting Jan. 19 to hear “Buy Me a Rose,” the new single from Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father” album.

WEEKEND 4

(Jan. 22)

On Jan. 24, Sanford Sylvan, the wonderful American baritone who does not so much sing as deliver each line of text directly into a listener’s lap, tackles Schubert’s heart-rending song cycle “Die Winterreise” at the Doheny Mansion.

WEEKEND 5

(Jan. 29)

Complicite, London’s liveliest theater company, meets Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Disney Hall for a new take on Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” -- anything could happen. And, of course, it’s Super Bowl Sunday.

WEEKEND 6

(Feb. 5)

On Feb. 5, Linkin Park plays the Forum. Meanwhile Ol’ Blond Hair is back. Rod Stewart launches his first tour in three years in Fort Lauderdale this weekend. Check Ticketmaster for update on when he’ll reach the Southland.

WEEKEND 7

(Feb. 12)

Robert Wilson’s literally glowing, incomparably beautiful production from Paris of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” finally reaches America Feb. 12 when L.A. Opera presents it at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

WEEKEND 8

(Feb. 19)

“Topdog/Underdog,” the 2002 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Suzan-Lori Parks continues its run at the Mark Taper Forum. George C. Wolfe (“Angels in America”) directs.

WEEKEND 9

(Feb. 26)

“Diane Arbus Revelations,” a major traveling retrospective of photographs by the artist known for making the familiar look bizarre and the bizarre look familiar opens this weekend at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

WEEKEND 10

(March 4)

She’s baaaacck: Britney Spears’ 25-city U.S. tour, which kicks off in San Diego, plays L.A. on March 8 ... details at www.britneyspears.com.

WEEKEND 11

(March 11)

“A Minimal Future? Art as Object 1958-1968,” opening March 14 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, is a landmark exhibition, billed as the first large show to examine the emergence and foundations of Minimalism, the movement that took “less is more” to new extremes.

WEEKEND 12

(March 18)

Columbia Legacy releases “For All Time,” a five-CD box set of Dave Brubeck offbeat jazz explorations through unusual rhythms, including the albums “Time Out,” “Time Further Out,” “Time In,” “Time Changes” and “Countdown: Time in Outer Space.”

WEEKEND 13

(March 25)

“The Dharma at Big Sur,” John Adams’ sensational new work -- a hyper-hip concerto for amplified jazz violin -- is a co-commission by the L.A. Philharmonic and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. This second outing, on March 28, at the Orange County Performing Arts Center will be the first for which tickets don’t cost a grand.

WEEKEND 14

(April 1)

Forget lovely hula hands. Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, the San Francisco-based ensemble that specializes in giving traditional Hawaiian dancing a startling, contemporary perspective, visits the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Expect artistic director Patrick Makuakane’s “The Natives Are Restless” to shame us all with insights on how U.S. missionaries wrecked native culture. And for sports fans, it’s the weekend of NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, as well as baseball’s opening day.

WEEKEND 15

(April 8)

A good time to touch base with hip-hop sources for the latest on Eminem’s new album, due sometime this year, and Dr. Dre’s album “Detox,” which he says will be his final album as a performer. It should surface in the spring or later.

WEEKEND 16

(April 15)

The Music Center Spotlight Awards April 17 showcase talented high school performers competing onstage (and visual artists offstage) for prizes ranging up to $6,000.

WEEKEND 17

(April 22)

Keep an eye out for NoHo Arts Festival, which usually falls in the month of May.

WEEKEND 18

(April 29)

The Coachella Festival, always among the year’s pop highlights, returns to the Inland Empire the first weekend in May.

WEEKEND 19

(May 6)

North Hollywood’s Lankershim Arts Center plans a May 6 exhibition of paintings of missing children by artist John Paul Thornton and a volunteer march May 22 in conjunction with Universal Studios.

WEEKEND 20

(May 13)

If you want tickets to opening weekend of the Hollywood Bowl, usually in mid-June, now is the time. This year will see the inauguration of a new shell.

WEEKEND 21

(May 20)

Time for the bandwagon Laker fans to hoist their flags (the real fans, of course, will have been wearing the team’s colors all winter). This is the weekend the NBA Conference Finals are scheduled to start. The Lakers surely will still be alive, won’t they?

WEEKEND 22

(May 27)

Pack for the 58th annual Ojai Music Festival, which starts June 3 under new artistic director Thomas W. Morris. Info: www.ojaifestival.org.

WEEKEND 23

(June 3)

The 26th annual Playboy Jazz Festival, scheduled to be the first event in the renovated Hollywood Bowl, features the all-star quartet of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland and Brian Blades, making its only Southern California appearance.

WEEKEND 24

(June 10)

The Frankfurt Ballet visits the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Perhaps the most influential ballet choreographer since George Balanchine, the daring, unpredictable William Forsythe has honed a contemporary company second to none in his 20-year regime. That era ends this season, but not before this valedictory engagement. Forsythe’s “(N.N.N.N.),” “Enemy in the Figure” and “Quintett” are scheduled.

WEEKEND 25

(June 17)

It’s the start of cherry picking time in the Leona Valley. A short picking season for sweet and sour cherries opens at a number of ranches in the area. There are many websites, but one is www.cherriesupic.com.

WEEKEND 26

(June 24)

Featuring the local premiere of “Promethean Fire” to music by Bach, the Paul Taylor Dance Company visits the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the L.A. Music Center June 26-27. Taylor belongs on the list of the world’s greatest living choreographers. Those who can’t wait until June should catch “Promethean Fire” and Taylor’s “Black Tuesday” on PBS’ “Great Performances” Jan. 28.

WEEKEND 27

(July 1)

Sure there are always fireworks, but for something different consider dropping in on the American Guild of Organists national convention, starting July 4. Lots of activity at various sites.

WEEKEND 28

(July 8)

Outfest 2004, the 22nd Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, is always one of the summer’s best parties. It runs July 8-19.

WEEKEND 29

(July 15)

The 7th annual International Pop Overthrow, a multi-venue showcase of more than 140 power-pop acts, begins its 17-day run throughout L.A..

WEEKEND 30

(July 22)

“Hairspray,” the big 2003 Tony winner, starts its run July 20 at the Pantages -- tickets will go on sale in February. Or visit your local megaplex to check out Matt Damon, who’s back as Jason Bourne, in “The Bourne Supremacy,” opening July 23.

WEEKEND 31

(July 29)

Choice of thrills: Venture into “The Village,” M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix, Sigourney Weaver, Adrien Brody and William Hurt, or get cat scratch fever from Halle Berry in “Catwoman,” July 30.

WEEKEND 32

(Aug. 5)

A good time to check Lost Highway Records’ website for word on when this fall or winter we’ll see the final studio album from the late Johnny Cash’s sessions with producer Rick Rubin.

WEEKEND 33

(Aug. 12)

Get your VCR set and your remote handy as the Summer Olympics return to where it all began, Athens.

WEEKEND 34

(Aug. 19)

Sunset Junction, the sprawling Silver Lake street fair that is part food festival, part carnival and part rock concert, convenes Aug. 21-22 on Sunset Boulevard.

WEEKEND 35

(Aug. 26)

Watch for the new Destiny’s Child album to drop.

WEEKEND 36

(Sept. 2)

Pack a Labor Day picnic and look for Coldplay’s follow-up to “A Rush of Blood to the Head,” expected in the fall.

WEEKEND 37

(Sept. 9)

The Skirball Cultural Center opens its new exhibition space, Winnick Hall, on Sept. 12 with a landmark exhibition on Albert Einstein’s life and scientific work.

WEEKEND 38

(Sept. 16)

Look for announcements for the 7th annual Art Crawl -- a late September event when 22 art galleries of Echo Park, Silver Lake and Los Feliz open their doors for “two nights and a day” of art viewing. For updates: www.ceart.com/artcrawl or (323) 666-7667.

WEEKEND 39

(Sept. 23)

A traveling show said to be the first of its kind, “Coming of Age in Ancient Greece: Images of Childhood From the Classical Past,” at the Getty Museum. More than 120 works show that the Greeks initiated the notion of representing children as they are, instead of as miniature adults.

WEEKEND 40

(Sept. 30)

The Huntington will open a new wing of the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries for American Art, a 16,000-square-foot building designed by architects Frederick Fisher and Partners. The addition will initially house European and British art, including “Pinkie” and “Blue Boy.”

WEEKEND 41

(Oct. 7)

Just out, Brian Wilson’s release of the Beach Boys’ aborted 1967 album “Smile,” which he’s been completing with Van Dyke Parks. He’ll also do a “Smile” tour a la his “Pet Sounds” with orchestra tour.

WEEKEND 42

(Oct. 14)

On Oct. 18, the Frederick P. Rose Hall, a $128-million, 100,000-square-foot performing arts facility, opens at the southwest corner of Manhattan’s Central Park. The world’s first acoustic venue designed specifically for jazz, it will be the new home of Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center.

WEEKEND 43

(Oct. 21)

Visit the new Kidspace Children’s Museum, designed by architect Michael Maltzan, who also designed the Museum of Modern Art’s home in Queens. Kidspace is scheduled to reopen this fall in Pasadena’s Brookside Park.

WEEKEND 44

(Oct. 28)

Catch all the last-minute political intrigues that accompany a presidential campaign. Expect it to take over the broadcasts from 24-hour cable channels to the networks. Then plan to vote on Nov. 2.

WEEKEND 45

(Nov. 4)

See some Oscar contenders a month before your friends at the AFI Fest 2004, which runs Nov. 4-14.

WEEKEND 46

(Nov. 11)

Tom Hanks rides Robert Zemeckis’ “The Polar Express,” this week.

WEEKEND 47

(Nov. 18)

See if you think it be an Oscar-worthy performance from Nicole Kidman in “The Interpreter,” directed by Sydney Pollack and opening Nov. 19.

WEEKEND 48

(Nov. 25)

Finish the turkey, then see how Ben Affleck is handling the holidays in “Surviving Christmas.”

WEEKEND 49

(Dec. 2)

The annual tussle for Southland bragging rights kicks off Dec. 4 at the Rose Bowl when the USC and UCLA football teams battle.

WEEKEND 50

(Dec. 9)

“The Course of Invention: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Europe and America, 1880-1920,” a mega exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art opens Dec. 12. Billed as the first show to assess and interpret the international influence of a movement that was not just an artistic style, but a world view of design as a moral imperative, it runs through March.

WEEKEND 51

(Dec. 16)

No wicked step mother here as Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger team up in “Cinderella Man,” opening Dec. 17.

WEEKEND 52

(Dec. 23)

The exact dates and venues are being confirmed, but Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures is coming around Christmas -- probably to the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The choreographer who gave us male swans in “Swan Lake” and a macho drifter Carmen in “The Car Man” presents a boldly Dickensian and adult take on the Tchaikovsky Yuletide classic in his “Nutcracker!” Leave the kiddies with a sitter....

AND ONE MORE

(Dec. 30)

Ben Stiller dealt with Robert De Niro in “Meet the Parents,” now it’s time for the in-laws to encounter Stiller’s family in “Meet the Fockers.” The comedy is sure to be among a host of holiday-season movie releases competing for your attention.

Contributors: Suzanne Muchnic, Chris Pasles, Diane Haithman, Mark Swed, Lewis Segal, Randy Lewis, Kevin Crust, Robin Rauzi, Kevin Bronson