Pacific Symphony

The aspect I remember best about Conrad Tao was the atypical way that his fellow musicians admired his onstage playing. I saw several of them - who are usually quite the stoic bunch - giving looks reminiscent of proud grandparents as Tao, then the 16-year-old prodigy pianist, performed Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6" as an encore. It was great. And, of course, so was Tao . The Chinese American musician, now 18, returns to Costa Mesa next week to perform with the Pacific Symphony once again.

The Pacific Symphony Orchestra opened its 2012-13 season in grand style Sept. 20 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The opening-night concert led by music director Carl St.Clair featured acclaimed pianist André Watts performing selections from Brahms and a roof-raising Piano Concerto No. 2 conducted by St.Clair with the entire Pacific Symphony. It was arguably the finest debut evening that the Pacific Symphony has ever offered the Orange County audience.

Four members of the Pacific Symphony are celebrating their 30th year with the orchestra. Principal violist Bob Becker, French horn player Russell Dicey, bass player Andrew Bumatay and violinist Robin Sandusky were noted for the milestone in this month's SoundWAVE, the orchestra's newsletter. The Pacific Symphony, one of three resident companies in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, began its 34th season last month. The orchestra also announced "a few new faces as well as the return of familiar ones" in SoundWAVE.

Lang Lang isn't a pianist to suit all tastes. I suppose no musician is, but in any case, there were a few times when he didn't suit mine last week. The 30-year-old Chinese virtuoso made a single stop in Costa Mesa on Sept. 27. He played with the Pacific Symphony in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. As conductor Carl St.Clair noted, he took on not one, but two concertos. Impressive indeed, no matter how you square it. But the manner in which this superstar - a superstar by classical world standards, that is - played Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 1 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, the lauded "Emperor," surely got those of us thinking who are used to these pieces (especially the Beethoven)

It was great to be indoors again. After months in the summer heat - which got dangerously excessive at times for this orchestra to play in - at parks and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, the Pacific Symphony returned to its Costa Mesa home base Sept. 20. Within the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Carl St.Clair led the orchestra's opening downbeat to herald in its 34th season. Pianist André Watts was the featured guest, and it was a good turnout for a Thursday on the three-night series.

The 34th season of the Pacific Symphony promises to be a memorable one: its busy lineup includes traditional favorites, pops concerts, a new Sunday series at Soka University and the second year of the opera-vocal initiative . The 2012-13 season begins next week with three nights featuring pianist André Watts. The repertoire for the 8 p.m. performances Sept. 20 to 22 is Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, Johann Strauss Jr.'s overture from "Die Fledermaus" and Richard Strauss' suite from "Der Rosenkavalier.

Eileen Jeanette's workday began at 7 in the morning and by 6 p.m., it wasn't over yet. On Sunday, the goal for her was clear: to make the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre suitable for a Pacific Symphony performance. Getting the venue on Irvine Center Drive ready for its classical summertime resident is no easy task for the team of about 30 who accomplishes it. Jeanette would know. She's done it 33 times. "Everything you see here, this is a rock 'n' roll venue," said Jeanette, the symphony's vice president of artistic and orchestra operations.

It's a scene that epitomizes summer: lawn chairs on the grass, picnic food at the ready, children playing, the air infused with music. Such a divine air will be coming to Orange County parks once again thanks to the Pacific Symphony and its annual "Symphony in the Cities" series supported by Target. And, like in years past, the concerts come to music lovers' ears at the divine price of free. The series, now in its eighth year, begins Saturday at Oso Viejo Park in Mission Viejo, then continues Sunday at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine.

A lovely summer fashion luncheon unfolded at the chic Big Canyon Country Club. Event chair Gwen Williams produced it with flair on behalf of The Pacific Symphony League. Williams joined forces with league president Dorcas Preston in welcoming 200 VIP guests for an afternoon with Beverly Hills-based fashion designer Ricco . Showing off a Ricco designed fuchsia chiffon ruffled jacket that happened to match the peonies in the dining room's floral arraignments, Williams helped raise funds for the league's support of music education programs in Orange County.

Could there be any more romantic setting than Paris at the dawn of the 20th century? The Pacific Symphony relived the artistic glamour of Paris 1899 at the conclusion of the Belle Epoque. Symphony organizers named their 2012 gala "La Fête du Siecle," which translates into English as "The Party of the Century. " The Hyatt Regency Irvine was the setting for the recent gala that attracted more than 350 patrons and raised an impressive $1.3 million net. Funds will be earmarked to support Pacific Symphony artistic and educational programs in Orange County.