Pasadena POPS to Move Concerts to Arboretum Starting in Summer of 2012

A surprise announcement released late Wednesday night by the Pasadena Symphony Association declares that they have received a five-year contract from Los Angeles County to produce a series of summer concerts at the in Arcadia beginning in the summer of 2012.

No information is immediately available from California Philharmonic Orchestra officials on what its plans might be in light of the agreement.

California Philharmonic has performed the Festival on the Green concerts at the Arboretum since 1996 to a large audience, sometimes exceeding 4,000 in attendance.  Its concerts have become standard summer entertainment over the years and audiences have become familiar with both returning musicians and guest artists and even music programs which often were repeated.

The Pasadena Symphony began presenting its POPS series at what they termed "the lawn adjacent to the Rose Bowl" after leaving their long-term home at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge.  That move was prompted in large part by the acquisition of the Pasadena Pops Orchestra by the Pasadena Symphony Association.  While the concerts at the Rose Bowl were successful, drawing a sizable crowd, many who followed the orchestra to the new location were dissatisfied with the austere surroundings of the Arroyo Seco stadium compared to the lovely garden location Descanso Gardens had offered.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to produce not only a Summer Pops Series at the Arboretum beginning in 2012, but at the prospect of presenting an entire summer of entertainment offerings for the San Gabriel Valley which include concerts for children and families," Pasadena Symphony Association CEO Paul Jan Zdunek said in a released statement. "We have greatly enjoyed our relationship with the Rose Bowl and our on going relationship with the City of Pasadena.  We remain committed to offering free music to Pasadena through our annual Music Under the Stars concert on the steps of City Hall.  The move to the Arboretum will allow the Pasadena Symphony and POPS to share its artistic resources to an even wider audience and reconfirms our commitment to serving the entire San Gabriel Valley community."  

We will update the article with more information on the new agreement as details become available.