MUSIC

Cellist Mstislav Rostropovich will make his first appearance in Southern California in four years when he plays in Ambassador Auditorium, Pasadena, Feb. 12. The recital, his only cello performance in the United States this season, follows Rostropovich’s National Symphony Orchestra performances (as conductor) in Southern California next week. Pianist Dmitri Paperno joins Rostropovich in the recital of music by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Bach as well as a composition by Rostropovich. The National Symphony also plays Jan. 26 in Palm Desert, Jan. 27 at Royce Hall, UCLA; Jan. 28 at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and Jan. 30 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.