TWO AUDITORIUMS, 150 CONCERTS : AMBASSADOR’S ‘87-88 SEASON ANNOUNCED

The 1987-88 season of the Ambassador International Cultural Foundation--a season in which the foundation will present more than 150 events at Ambassador and Pasadena Civic Auditoriums in Pasadena--will feature first-time Pasadena appearances by, among others, L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Moscow Ballet, the Central Philharmonic of China and the Georgian Chamber Orchestra of Tbilisi.

It will also offer return engagements by a number of major artists and attractions.

In addition, three new series have been added to the cultural buffet of 21 different series in this 13th annual season by the foundation. The new subscription series are a season-long Ballet Festival--all performances at Pasadena Civic--a jazz and pops series, called Sounds of Genius, and a six-event Family Pops at Pasadena Civic.

Among potential highlights of the concert year is a five-concert engagement (April 23-28, 1988) by the touring Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, led by its founder, Sir Neville Marriner. This engagement will mark the first West Coast visit by the complete, 51-member instrumental ensemble; previous tours have brought the smaller, 16-player contingent here.

Other high points of the season: A six-concert series at which the Borodin Quartet will play the complete string quartets by Dmitri Shostakovich; two recitals by cellist Yo-Yo Ma devoted in their entirety to the six unaccompanied suites by J.S. Bach (May 14 and 15); the first Ambassador appearance by tenor Jon Vickers (Oct. 21); the return of conductor Gerard Schwarz, leading his orchestra, the Seattle Symphony(Jan. 30), and a first appearance by the Israel Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Yoav Talmi (March 3).

Appearing on the Great Performers series will be flutists James Galway and Ransom Wilson, with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (Oct. 17); Central Philharmonic of China (Nov. 5); flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal (Feb. 24); the Seattle Symphony (Jan. 30); English Chamber Orchestra (March 13); Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (April 24), and cellist Yo-Yo-Ma (May 14, 15).

Singers on the Stars of Opera series will be Vickers (Oct. 21); baritone Piero Cappuccilli (Nov. 25); soprano Roberta Peters (Dec. 6); soprano Arleen Auger (March 6); baritone Sherrill Milnes (April 10); soprano Elly Ameling (April 14), and soprano Kathleen Battle (May 11).

In addition to the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, ensembles appearing on the Great Orchestras of the World series will be L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Armin Jordan (Nov. 12) and the Pittsburgh Symphony, led by Charles Dutoit (March 5).

Five concerts make up the International Chamber Orchestras series. They will be performed by the Moscow Virtuosi (Oct. 22); the Georgian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by music director Liana Isakadze (Nov. 1); Israel Chamber Orchestra (March 3); English Chamber Orchestra, led by Jeffrey Tate (March 10), and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (April 26).

On Series A of the chamber music lineup, the Israel Piano Trio appears Nov. 10, followed by a trio made up of violinist Ruggiero Ricci, cellist Nathaniel Rosen and pianist Santiago Rodriguez, Nov. 14, and the Juilliard String Quartet, Jan. 27. Series B comprises the six concerts by the Borodin Quartet, March 15-27.

The three attractions on the Ballet Festival series are the Moscow Ballet (four performances, Oct. 22-25), Dance Theatre of Harlem (seven performances, Feb. 1-7), and the National Ballet of Canada (seven performances, May 30-June 5).

The eight-concert piano series includes appearances by Misha and Cipa Dichter (Oct. 1), the 22-year old Italian virtuoso, Andrea Lucchesini (Oct. 29), Shura Cherkassky (Nov. 18) and Mitsuko Uchida (March 20).

For information and brochure: (818) 304-6166.