Halprin Sets First Program in Orange County

To initiate her new duties as music director of the Orange County Chamber Orchestra, Diana Halprin will open with an autumn program of Mozart, Beethoven and Donizetti.

Concertmaster of the chamber orchestra since 1987, Halprin took over as director in May, 19, after founding music director Micah Levy announced he would pursue graduate studies at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. Halprin will lead all programs except one (Jan. 22), which Levy will conduct.

The season’s first performance will be Oct. 2 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, where all of the season’s programs will take place at 2:30 p.m. Series tickets are $57 to $131. Prices for individual concerts range from $14 to $29. (714) 450-3180.

The 1994-95 season:

* Oct. 2: Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, Donizetti’s Allegro, and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, with Halprin as soloist.

* Nov. 13: Spohr’s Nonet in F, Dvorak’s Serenade in D minor, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, with William Wolfram as soloist.

* Jan. 22: Elgar’s Serenade for Strings and “Sospiri,” Dido’s Lament from Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” Finzi’s “Let Us Garlands Bring,” and Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge.

* March 5: Mozart’s Divertimento in F, K. 138, Campra’s “Motet Italienne,” Grieg’s “Holberg” Suite, Bach’s Concerto for Two Pianos in C, and Lutoslawski’s Variations on a Theme of Paganini for Two Pianos, with Jannine Livingston and Mark Uranker as soloists.

* May 14: Pergolesi’s Concertino No. 2, Haydn’s Symphony No. 86, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, and Ibert’s “Concertina da Camera” for Alto Saxophone and 11 Instruments, with Samuel Karam the soloist in both pieces.