San Diego pops to play Sunday in Escondido

By:CANDICE REED - For the North County Times | Thursday, August 14, 2003 6:53 AM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- The melodic sounds of violins, flutes, a cannon and even an accordion will be heard throughout downtown Sunday as the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, presents the San Diego Symphony Pops at Grape Day Park.

The free outdoor event, set for 7 p.m., will feature conductor Matthew Garbutt and pianist Vassily Primakov. The 75-piece orchestra will perform the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular, featuring the Russian composer's most well-known compositions, including the First Piano Concerto, and the festive 1812 Overture.

"This music is a universal experience," said Drew Cady, general manager of the San Diego Symphony. "Even by today's standards people will be able to recognize the master of melody. This concert, I believe, will be a very accessible experience."

People are invited to bring their blankets and picnic baskets to the park for an evening of romantic music under the stars. The Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, a local San Diego charitable foundation, sponsors the concert.

The Escondido arts center has somewhat of a track record for offering free outdoor concerts ---- it has hosted Fourth of July concerts in the park for the last four years. An estimated 10,000 people attended the event last month.

"Our Fourth of July events are very popular," said Tina Ostrem, director of community affairs for the center. "We've also brought military bands and presented daylong concerts in the park and we want to continue to bring the concerts to the community."

The San Diego Symphony Pops performs during the winter in Escondido in the arts center theater and, because of this relationship, the orchestra is looking forward to playing in the park for people who normally don't attend the musical season, said Cady.

"We enjoy playing during the winter season but this will be a nice change of pace," he said. "It's very nice to have a presence in Escondido."

The pops presence will definitely be felt when Primakov takes to the stage. At the age of 15, Primakov won first prize in the Rachmaninoff International Young Pianist Competition in Russia and in 1998 he was awarded the Bruce Hungerford Memorial Award. Primakov, who was born in Moscow, has toured in Switzerland, Romania, Russia, Japan and

Panama.

"Vassily is limited to a number of engagements," Cady said. "We're really very fortunate to have him play with us in Escondido."

Drinks and refreshments will be on sale in the park but concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own snacks and drinks.

Piotr Tchaikovsky composed his music during a romantic period in the mid-1800s but his 1812 Overture is bold and big.

"There will be a lot of loud music during that piece," Cady said. "We'll have an accordion, which you don't hear a lot in a symphony, and even though we can't bring our cannons, we will have it on digital. No one will be disappointed."

For more information, check the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Web site: www.artcenter.org.