Like a phoenix from the ashes, San Diego's Symphony is on the verge of major triumph. The organization first took shape when a group of musicians gathered to perform at the U.S. Grant Hotel in 1910. Over time, the symphony grew and prospered with the city, but floundered for a decade starting in the late 1980s in conjunction with several years of local recession, inept management, and the malaise that gripped many fine orchestras around the country. In 1998 the symphony emerged from bankruptcy with a dedicated conductor (Jung-Ho Pak), and in 2002, enduring financial stability arrived with the announcement of a $120 million bequest by Joan and Irwin Jacobs (founder and CEO of Qualcomm). The bequest allows the organization to lure top talent, which started with the announcement of a new resident conductor, Jahja Ling (of the Blossom Music Festival). The symphony's home is the Fox Theatre, a 1929-era French rococo-style downtown landmark, restored and now known as Symphony Hall. The season runs October through May. A Summer Pops series, with programs devoted to big band, Broadway, and Tchaikovsky, is held weekends from late June to August on Navy Pier at the Embarcadero--always bring a sweater and possibly a blanket for these pleasantly brisk evenings on the water. The box office is open Monday through Thursday from 10am to 6pm, and on performance days from noon until intermission.