DOWNEY - The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming!Well, this time we don't have Alan Arkin in a submarine, as the 1966 film did, but we do offer a pretty good match-up for that: a couple Russian cool guys named Dmitri Shostakovich and Peter Tchaikovsky, and they're in fine fettle. They're also in good company with Sharon Lavery and the Downey Symphony, who perform their works in the next concert on Saturday, March 31, in the Downey Theatre. This marks the final performance in the orchestra's 54th season, and it's a special one, drenched in the Russian color and excitement of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 and Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien. For variety, there's Hungarian paprika in the form of Franz Liszt's First Piano Concerto, played by the acclaimed and very busy artist, Kevin Fitz-Gerald. Tickets at $30 and $25, with student ID, may be purchased by phoning the theater box office at (562) 861-8211, or online at downeysymphony.org. Concert time is 8 p.m., with a discussion of the music at 7:15 p.m. The theatre is at 8435 Firestone Blvd. in Downey, near Brookshire Ave., and parking is free. Add to all this the annual Baton Auction and a complimentary champagne reception for everyone after the concert, and you're promised a Russian whee of an evening.

********** Published: March 15, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 48