O.C. Philharmonic Society announces 2017-18 season

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County has announced its 64th season, featuring 29 performances by many of the world’s most celebrated artists and ensembles.

Among the highlights are nine orchestral presentations, five of which feature international touring orchestras, including the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra appearing with pianist Denis Matsuev and led by Valery Gergiev; the Royal Philharmonic with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet led by Charles Dutoit; and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in an all-Beethoven program featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti and conducted by Marin Alsop, according to a news release from the Philharmonic Society.

American orchestras include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti; Los Angeles Philharmonic led by violinist Itzhak Perlman; San Francisco Symphony featuring violinist Gil Shaham and conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas; and the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart. The season also marks the return of internationally acclaimed artists such as violinist Joshua Bell and pianists Lang Lang and Yuja Wang, the release said.

The Society continues to expand its holiday offerings, bringing back the Canadian Brass for its fourth consecutive season, and presenting “A Swingin’ Big Band Christmas” as well as the Bach Collegium Japan Chorus and Orchestra led by Masaaki Suzuki performing Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.”

The 2017-18 season also marks the continuation of the Society’s Eclectic Orange offerings, with a co-presentation with Segerstrom Center for the Arts of the 1931 cinematic horror classic “Dracula” — soundtrack performed live by composer-pianist Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet — as well as a performance by pianist Joyce Yang in collaboration with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in which Yang shares the stage with dancers from the ballet company in interactive works.

The Philharmonic Society continues its second season at the new Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University. Performances will include Circa Ensemble’s award-winning production “Il Ritorno”; a recital by Grammy-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman; and a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet.

Orchestra concerts

Nine concerts featuring world-class orchestras, conductors and soloists will be held at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa:

Oct. 16: Riccardo Muti will conduct the multi-Grammy Award-winning Chicago Symphony Orchestra on the Philharmonic Society’s 2017-18 season opening night. 8 p.m.

Oct. 30: Grammy Award-winning conductor Valery Gergiev leads the venerable Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra of Russia in an evening of Strauss and Tchaikovsky. 8 p.m.

Jan. 14, 2018: For its annual visit to Orange County, the Los Angeles Philharmonic will be led by violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman. 3 p.m.

Jan. 25, 2018: The London-based Royal Philharmonic returns under the baton of its artistic director and principal conductor, Charles Dutoit. 8 p.m.

Feb. 12, 2018: The British period ensemble Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, conducted by Marin Alsop, will perform an all-Beethoven program. 8 p.m.

March 9, 2018: Grammy Award-winning virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell will return with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, leading the ensemble in a program featuring Mendelssohn, Wieniawski and Beethoven. 8 p.m.

March 21, 2018: The Zurich Chamber Orchestra will pay tribute to Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” 8 p.m.

March 29, 2018: The San Francisco Symphony will make its first Orange County appearance in nearly 10 years. The program will be led by Michael Tilson Thomas and will feature Mahler’s “Fifth Symphony” and Alban Berg’s “Violin Concerto.” 8 p.m.

April 16, 2018: The Boston Pops Orchestra, with conductor Keith Lockhart, will perform the works of multi-Oscar winner and Boston Pops laureate conductor John Williams. 8 p.m.

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Chamber music

Nov. 5, 2017: The Modigliani Quartet will launch the Philharmonic Society’s chamber music series with Brahms, Schubert, Puccini and Mendelssohn. 3 p.m., Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater

Nov. 10, 2017: The Tetzlaff Quartet will perform Mozart, Berg and Schubert. 8 p.m., Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater

Feb. 20, 2018: The Danish String Quartet will return to Orange County with a program featuring German composer Jörg Widmann, along with works by Haydn, Mozart and Brahms. 8 p.m., Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater

March 1, 2018: The Smetana Trio will perform Zemlinsky, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn. 8 p.m., Irvine Barclay Theatre

March 4, 2018: The Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet will perform Austrian composer Heinrich von Herzogenberg and Brahms. 3 p.m., Musco Center for the Arts

June 3, 2018: Canadian violinist James Ehnes and American pianist Orion Weiss will team up for a program to be announced. 3 p.m., Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater

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Recitals

Jan. 6, 2018: Pianist Igor Levit will perform Haydn, Shostakovich, Berg, Alkan and Beethoven. 8 p.m., Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Feb. 15, 2018: Pianist Yefim Bronfman will make his Musco Center for the Arts debut with a recital focusing on Stravinsky, Schumann and contemporary German composer Jörg Widmann. 8 p.m., Musco Center for the Arts

Feb. 23, 2018: Pianist Lang Lang will make a solo appearance in celebration of the Lunar New Year. His program will include Debussy, Liszt, Falla, Albeniz and Granados. 8 p.m. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Segerstrom Hall