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Astronomy and the arts: Griffith Observatory plans concert under stars

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With a full moon as backdrop, the Griffith Observatory will play host Oct. 4 to an outdoor concert by the 67-piece Symphony in the Glen, the first of what organizers say will be an annual ‘Cosmic Conjunction’ program ‘to link astronomy and the arts.’

Organizers said it will be the first time in the observatory’s 74-year history that a full symphony orchestra has performed on the lawn of the famed Griffith Park site.

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The program will feature compositions that ‘reference the sky and cosmos,’ said E.C. Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory since 1974. It will conclude with the world premiere of ‘Observations,’ a piece by Arthur B. Rubinstein, conductor of Symphony in the Glen, with narration by Leonard Nimoy, a longtime supporter of the observatory who has his own connections with the cosmos courtesy of a little space drama called ‘Star Trek.’

The concert will be repeated at 10 a.m. Oct. 6 for schoolchildren at the Greek Theatre -- an encore that Nimoy finds especially pleasing. ‘This is one very important step to filling the gap left by the cuts in science education in our schools,’ the actor said in a statement.

The event, running from 6 to 8:30 p.m. with dinner included, is designed as a fundraiser for Friends of the Observatory, a nonprofit support group. Ticket information is available from Friends of the Observatory at (213) 473-0807 or www.friendsoftheobservatory.com.

-- Lee Margulies

Observatory photo: Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times

Leonard Nimoy photo: Friends of the Observatory

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