Erich Vollmer, general manager of the Orange County Philharmonic Society, disclosed this week that he is negotiating to make Costa Mesa a stop on the 1988-89 West Coast tour of the Vienna Philharmonic with Leonard Bernstein as conductor.
He said the orchestra would provide the kind of orchestral "centerpiece" that he acknowledges is missing for the 1987-88 season. Vollmer said he is optimistic that the negotiations will succeed.
And if all goes as Vollmer hopes, he also will present the London-based Royal Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the Moscow State Symphony and the Czech Philharmonic in 1988-89. Agents for the orchestras confirmed discussions with Vollmer.
"Yes, indeed, we are talking to him, but I can't comment at this point" about the likelihood of a Vienna Philharmonic visit to Costa Mesa, said Andrew Grossman, national booking director for Columbia Artists Management Inc. "It may very well work out, but there are some financial considerations we're looking at."
