Kirov, Royal Opera Orchestras to Appear

IRVINE — The Kirov Orchestra, led by the mighty Valery Gergiev, and the Royal Opera Orchestra of Covent Garden, led by Edward Downes in its U.S. debut, will join an impressive lineup of artists and orchestras during the Philharmonic Society of Orange County’s 1998-99 season, the Irvine-based arts presenter announced today.

The society had previously announced an exclusive Southland concert by Kurt Masur and the New York Philharmonic and an exclusive U.S. series of Beethoven’s nine symphonies with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the London-based Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. A previously announced recital by Cecilia Bartoli will not take place, however, because the mezzo-soprano has postponed all of her U.S. performances for personal reasons.

Gergiev, who has electrified audiences and critics with his intense and sometimes idiosyncratic leadership, will conduct a program of Wagner, Prokofiev, Strauss and Scriabin at the center.

Downes will conduct two opera-excerpt programs, drawing on works by Bizet, Mascagni, Puccini, Verdi, Britten, Wagner and other composers, at the Costa Mesa venue.

The Philharmonic Society also has begun a partnership to present the renowned San Francisco-based Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, a period-instrument ensemble, led by Nicholas McGegan. Concerts have been scheduled at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach and at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Scheduled to return as a soloist this season is mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager, whose 1997 Southern California recital debut in Laguna Beach sold out months in advance.

The only other recitalist is pianist Radu Lupu.

Returning ensembles include the Kronos Quartet and Anonymous 4, with the latter teaming up with the a cappella group Lionheart.