Wilshire Ebell Theatre

Facing what music director Lucinda Carver calls "financial challenges," the 25-year-old Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra has canceled the last concerts of its 2000-01 season. The group's annual August appearance at the John Anson Ford Theatre has also been cut. The move, Carver said, is part of a far-reaching belt-tightening and fund-raising effort to ensure the longevity of the orchestra. Programming for next season, which begins in October, will be announced shortly.

In houses and apartments across L.A., people are gathering together to practice a little-known, but growing, devotional ritual called kirtan. Somewhere between a singalong and a group meditation, kirtan (KEER-tan) is a call-and-response spiritual practice that has roots in Indian religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. It was introduced to America in 1923, at a performance in Carnegie Hall. Since then, it has transitioned from an exotic performance to a common practice.

That the Pasquier Trio cut Menahem Pressler down to size on Wednesday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre may sound like an act of unwarranted cruelty. Pressler does, after all, stand not much (if anything) over 5 feet tall. But it may be the most potent 5 feet of pianist in the world of chamber music. Pressler tends to dominate ensembles, including the Beaux Arts Trio with which he been identified for 35 years. One regards his collaborators as sidemen rather than equals.

Shallowly executed dancing is like mumbled speech: It blunts and trivializes whatever message it's delivering. In its 2-year anniversary program at the Wilshire Ebell on Friday, the locally based modern dance collective R Dance Company aimed for a statement of high achievement. Company directors Robert Whidbee and Roberta Wolin brought together choreographers and dancers reflecting the full spectrum of our multicultural community.

"Songwriters don't get enough credit," griped Stevie Wonder as he was being showered with accolades for his songwriting. On Thursday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Songwriters at the seventh annual "Salute to the American Songwriter." "I was wondering when I was going to get one of these," he quipped.

Composer Michael Kamen will conduct the Young Musicians Foundation's Debut Orchestra in a suite from his score for HBO's miniseries "Band of Brothers" at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in L.A. Admission is free.

The feature documentary "Ballets Russes" brought audiences glimpses of a vanished classical era company (actually two companies) and repertory. And now Media City Ballet's program "The Men of the Ballets Russes" brings to the Wilshire Ebell Theatre major Russes stars as well as film clips of them in their prime.

James Taylor will headline "Songs for a New Resolution," a concert Monday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre to benefit the UCLA AIDS Institute's vaccine and microbicide program. Arnold McCuller, Brandi Carlile, Deborah Falconer and Brandon Fields will also perform at the show, which will be hosted by actress Anna Maria Horsford. Tickets are available at www.musicaids.org and at the theater: (323) 939-1128.