Did Mozart really laugh like that? Was Salieri truly such a jealous, murderous jerk? Real musicians weigh in on the veracity of Peter Shaffer’s iconic film.

Our roundtable discussion includes Josh Shaw, the charismatic and knowledgeable Artistic Director of Pacific Opera Project — which will produce Salieri’s La Scuola de’ Gelosi in mid-January. Share your thoughts and ask us anything as active participants in the conversation — or simply listen in.

You can watch the movie beforehand or press play at 6 PM sharp, chatting with us on Zoom. We’ll then take a quick bathroom and snack-refill break and reconvene on Zoom at 9:05 for the discussion.

You can rent the Director’s Cut on Amazon Prime Video here for $3.79. It’s free to join us on Zoom. You must register by clicking the button below to receive the Zoom link.

Chef Becky Brown, Experience Designer Mercedes Curran, and Salastina team up once more for the most opulent, decadent, nostalgic, immersive, and beautiful holiday event ever. The Da Camera Society again opens its doors to the stunning Doheny Mansion for the occasion.

Built in 1899, the Doheny Mansion’s Pompeian Room is replete with actual gilded details, colored marble floors, and a golden, ombre glass dome that is simply resplendent at midday. And naturally, it’ll be appropriately decked out for Christmas. Enjoy Becky’s 5-course gourmet holiday brunch while losing yourself in music composed when the venue was built.

The Yuletide Carolers musically greet you in Victorian garb. Come in costume yourself, if you wish!

NOTE: Ticket sales close FRIDAY AT NOON. Tickets are non-refundable. At checkout, you may choose either the standard or vegan menu. Substitutions politely declined.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist Linnea Powell, Guest Violist Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist

Menu: First course
Standard: Smoked trout rillettes on brioche, celery leaf salad
Miso Deviled eggs with cured ikaru
Vegan: Caramelized Marsala mushrooms, white bean puree, garlic confit

Second course Standard: Red oak salad, citrus vinaigrette, oro blanco, aged Gouda 
Vegan: Red oak salad, citrus vinaigrette, oro blanco

Third course Standard: Scottish salmon, McGrath farms beet puree, brown butter, satsuma emulsion  Vegan: roasted beet medley, satsuma emulsion, cashew cheese, walnuts 

Fourth course:  Standard: New Zealand lamb chops, celery root, medjool date chutney, toasted pepitas, mint  Vegan: seared king oyster mushrooms, celery root puree, medjool date chutney, pepitas, fried sage 

Fifth course:  Standard: Pumpkin cheesecake, ginger cranberry jam, ginger snap crumble, chantilly cream
Vegan:  Ginger cranberry sorbet with olive oil 

Salastina proudly presents this performance in partnership with The Da Camera Society.

Inspired by a documentary, Salastina’s Resident Flutist Benjamin Smolen sought out and befriended Walter Arlen — an Austrian-born, gay Jewish composer who fled the Nazis, ultimately spending most of his life and career in Southern California.

Sadly, Ben did not have the chance to perform Walter’s music before the composer passed away last September at age 103.

Ben curates this posthumous celebration of the works and friendships of a man who continues to inspire him. 

Mimosa and pastry reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Walter Arlen: Monotypes
Roy Harris: American Ballads
Hector Villa Lobos: Jet Whistle
Carlos Chavez: Lento from String Quartet No. 3
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Ein Quartett-Satz on the Name of Walter Arlen
Walter Arlen: Sonnett for Violin and Piano

Artists:
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Resident Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist

10 AM: Early Access for Members at the Supporter + Level

The Music of the Spheres has never tasted so good.

Travel through the cosmos with space-themed musical selections in the otherworldly, intimate Revery LA. Enjoy Master Chef-alum Becky Brown's gourmet 4-course meal between pieces.

Stellar is the only way to describe the company we’ll keep at this event. Meet three astronomers and music lovers who’ll share “secrets of the universe” as well as the millenia-old kinship between music and astronomy.

NASA astronomer Steve Bryson, a man tasked with discovering how many Earth-like planets there are in the universe, performs the theremin alongside Salastina’s string quartet. He’ll also share a little about his scientific work. Two lovely French employees of LIGO let us in on their groundbreaking scientific work listening to the actual sounds of the universe to draw meaningful insights about its origins. (NBD: it won the Nobel Prize in 2017.)

Throughout the evening, try creating otherwordly sounds and alien voices at our “Theremin Petting Zoo.”

Theme Edit’s Mercedes Curran provides experience design for this immersive, fascinating, delicious event unlike any other in the universe.

Please note that you may choose either the complete vegan or regular menu. We cannot accommodate dish-by-dish substitutions or changes to your menu selection on-site. No further changes can be made after selecting your preferred menu at the time of ticket purchase. No other dietary restrictions or substitutions can be accommodated.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Linnea Powell, Guest Violist
Steve Bryson, Guest Theremin Player and Speaker
Arnaud Pele and Marie Kasprczak, Guest Speakers
Becky Brown, Chef
Mercedes Curran, Experience Designer

Program:
Terry Riley: Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector
Carolina Eyck: Strange Birds and Ascent Descent
Chris Westlake: Selections from Star Trek: Lower Decks 
Hans Zimmer: Selections from Interstellar
John Williams: Selections from Star Wars

MENU
Welcome drink: Bantha Punch
Spirulina, coconut milk, pineapple, rum

First course: Beachside on an Alien World
Tai snapper crudo cured in kombu with shiso crema, wasabi flying fish roe, tapioca crisp
Vegan option: Shiso salad, pickled carrots, and daikon, thai basil, tapioca crisp

Second course: Extraterrestrial beet terrine
Amaranth, purple haze goat cheese, walnuts, pomegranate molasses
Vegan option: Amaranth, walnuts, pomegranate molasses

Third course: The infinity of space
Braised beef short rib, black forbidden rice, black sesame, black garlic
Vegan option: Braised King oyster mushroom, black forbidden rice, black sesame, black garlic

Fourth course: Nebula
Luminescent chocolate cake, white chocolate glaze, chocolate caramel mousse
Vegan option: “Celestial forms” chocolate sorbet

Ticket sales close Thursday, April 25th

Sounds Mysterious is a game in which Brian assigns us a piece of music that none of us recognize. He even redacts the composer’s name. We rehearse it, perform it, and attempt to guess the composer along with you. The delight of surprise and interactive “whodunnit” guessing game make for an engaging spin on the live concert experience.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

Salastina Members may watch the livestream for free in our Members-Only Lounge.

Slow your heartbeat and set it aflutter with a selection of soul-soothing and soul-stirring Romantic, pop, classical, and movie score favorites. The intimate, vibe-y, chandelier-lit venue in the heart of Hollywood puts you up close to the performers: a string quartet, pianist, and flutist who've recorded your favorite film soundtracks. Enjoy complimentary wine and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival, and mingle with the artists after the show.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist
Ben Smolen, Resident Flutist


Please note tickets need to be purchased in advance; there are no door sales or livestream for this concert.

$20 Reserve parking is available for purchase below.

Join us for a Virtual Watch Party of the newly-released film Maestro starring Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein. A free Zoom roundtable discussion immediately follows.

The film is 2 hours and 9 minutes long; we will begin our roundtable discussion on Zoom at 8:15.

How to watch:

• stream on Netflix (requires your own subscription)

You may either:

• Join us in our Zoom room at 6 PM PT, hit “play” on the film on your own device at the same time as everyone else, and use Zoom’s chat box as we watch the film together

• OR watch the film on your own ahead of time, joining us on Zoom for the Roundtable Discussion only at 8:15 PM PT

If you haven't received a Zoom room link, please click the registration link in your ticket email receipt.

Sunday, December 3, 2023 @ 11 AM
Doheny Mansion at Mount Saint Mary’s University

As the holiday season approaches, immerse yourself in a late-19th-century musical, culinary, and generally Christmas-y explosion.

Enjoy a 5-course gourmet holiday brunch prepared by Master Chef alum Becky Brown. Travel back in time in the stunning period venue; built in 1899, the Doheny Mansion’s Pompeian Room is replete with actual gilded details, colored marble floors, and a golden, ombre glass dome that is simply resplendent at mid-day. And naturally, it’ll be appropriately decked out for Christmas.

The concert features The Yuletide Carolers, a festive a capella group dressed in the fashion of the time, as well as music composed during the turn of the last century.

Come in costume, if you wish. (We sure will!)

Salastina proudly presents this performance in partnership with The Da Camera Society in celebration of its 50th Anniversary Season.

NOTE: Tickets are non-refundable. At checkout, you may choose either the full regular or full vegan menu. Substitutions politely declined.

Artists:
Kevin Kumar, Co-Artistic Director and Violinist
Tereza Stanislav, Guest Violinist
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Charlie Tyler, Guest Cellist
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist
The Yuletide Carolers

Musical and culinary menu:

Welcome
Welcome Carols: The Yuletide Carolers
Welcome cocktail: Cranberry orange mimosa with rosemary and sparkling wine 

First course
Harry & Rupert Gregson-Williams, arr. by James McMillen: The Gilded Age Medley
Food: Salmon tartine with sauce gribiche, mushroom blinis with shallot confit, tea sandwiches 
Vegan option: Mushroom blinis with shallot confit, tea sandwiches

Second course
Gabriel Fauré: Après un Reve
Food: Butternut squash “chowder,” spiced pepitas, herbs (gluten-free)
Vegan option: same as above

Third course 
Claude Debussy: Danse sacrée et danse profane
Food: Steelhead trout with lobster sauce américaine, asparagus
Vegan option: Cauliflower steak, zhoug, tahini garlic sauce, asparagus (gluten-free)

Fourth course
Max Bruch: Kol Nidrei
Food: Leg of lamb roulade, fried cumin and coriander, mint chutney, sunchokes (gluten-free)
Vegan option: Roasted sunchokes & maitake mushrooms, fried cumin and coriander, mint chutney, sunchoke purée (gluten-free)

Fifth course
Johann Strauss II: Wine, Women, and Song
Food: Eton mess with “exotic fruits,” lime curd, Chantilly cream 
Vegan option: “Exotic fruits” with sorbet (gluten-free)

*Ticket sales close Friday, December 1st at 12PM

24/7 family time got you missing Zoom yet? If so, we're here to provide you with the perfect excuse to escape into cyberspace.

Cozy up with us from the comfort of your couch for a watch party and discussion of the Oscar-bait film TÁR.

TÁR is a 2022 psychological drama starring Cate Blanchett as Lydia Tár, a renowned composer-conductor. The subject of the film: her life and downfall.

Our musicians have LOTS of thoughts on how accurately (or not) the film portrayed both the psychology of classical musicians and classical music culture in general. This is an opportunity to share your own thoughts -- and ask us anything. Examples:

• "are all conductors that crazy?"

• "would something like that really ever happen at Juilliard, or in any educational setting?"

• "is that how artists 'get the gig' in the real world?"

• "how has #metoo played out, and how does it continue to play out, in the field of classical music?"

We are prepared to share war stories! 

Join us for the chat having seen the film -- or not, if you don't mind big-time spoilers. If you haven't seen it yet, you're welcome to either watch it ahead of time on your own OR join our Amazon Prime Watch Party.

Here is a link that includes all the ways you can watch the film ahead of time. It is currently $19.99 to watch on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

We invite Amazon Prime members to watch in real-time together by joining our Amazon Prime watch party. Here's how:

• First,  purchase the film on Amazon Prime for $19.99; we recommend doing this ahead of time

• To join the watch party, you must be logged in to your Amazon Prime account

• The watch party will begin at 6 PM PT

• If you'd like to join the watch party from your laptop, simply click here

• If  you'd like to watch on your TV, you can watch in either the Prime Video App or Firestick. Click "My Stuff," scroll down to "Watch Party" (the last option available), and enter the code 25115516

There is no cost to join us for the chat on Zoom at 8:30 PM PT.

Joachim Horsley is a composer, pianist, and arranger. His 2019 album “Via Havana,” praised by the French publication Le Figaro as “masterful,” features piano-driven re-imaginings of great Classical works using Afro-Caribbean Rhythms. His related YouTube videos have garnered over 3 million views.

Recently he created the original scores for the ABC TV Series “Baker and the Beauty,” Disney Channel's “Big City Greens,” and Warner Brothers feature film “Batman: Soul of the Dragon.” Other projects include arranging for Michael Bublé and John Legend, as well as orchestrating Ben Folds’ Piano Concerto.

Mimosa and pastry reception to follow in Pasadena Conservatory’s lovely outdoor courtyard.

Salastina Members can cash in on those benefits for in-person early access at 10:00 AM. As always, Salastina Members may watch the livestream free in our Members-Only Lounge.


Program:
Impromptuno
Colombia Andante
Lacrimoson
Mountain King Cha Cha
Beethoven In Havana
Rumba Prelude

Artists:
Joachim Horsley, Guest Pianist and Composer
Yonathan “Morocho” Gavidia, Guest Hand Percussionist
Luca Alemanno, Guest Double and Electric Bassist
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Hanbyul Jang Lash, Guest Violist
Ben Lash, Guest Cellist
Ben Smolen, Resident Flutist

Joining us tomorrow? Click here for more info.

Declared “brilliant” by the Washington Post, violinist Sandy Cameron is one of the most strikingly unique artists of her generation. The most noteworthy, and a truly rewarding experience of Sandy’s career as a concert soloist is Danny Elfman's Violin Concerto Eleven Eleven. Mr. Elfman wrote this concerto for Ms. Cameron, and she had the great pleasure and honor of presenting the world premiere with conductor John Mauceri at the Prague Proms in June 2017. In 2018, she recorded the Elfman Violin Concerto with Maestro Mauceri and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, now available on Sony Classical.

Join us every Tuesday for Salastina’s Happy Hour: bringing you free, live musical performance, spirited conversation, and interaction with musicians and fellow music lovers.

What does it take to get movie music ready to be recorded, and why is it mission-critical? To find out, we're joined by Steve Juliani of Juliani Music Prep. For 20 years, SJM has worked with composers for film, television, video games and other commercial mediums to prepare music for recording sessions worldwide.

Steve is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the University of Southern California where he studied the french horn. After playing the horn professionally in Los Angeles he apprenticed with copyist Janice Hayen, who taught him to copy music by hand. He and his staff have worked on hundreds of commercial projects for many of the most successful composers in the world.

In addition, Steve is also a composer himself and a criminal defense attorney.

Join us every Tuesday for Salastina’s Happy Hour: bringing you free, live musical performance, spirited conversation, and interaction with musicians and fellow music lovers.

Violins of Hope is a project of concerts based on a private collection of violins, violas, and cellos collected since the end of World War II. All the instruments belonged to Jews before and during the war. And they all share a common denominator: they had to do with the holocaust -- specifically, with death, survival, and hope.

Violin-makers Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshalom Weinstein own and care for this collection, sharing its story around the world. The project's LA-based ambassador: violinist Niv Ashkenazi, who plays on one of the instruments thanks to a permanent loan.

Join us for live performance by and conversation with Niv, both centered around this moving project.

Join us every Tuesday for Salastina’s Happy Hour: bringing you free, live musical performance, spirited conversation, and interaction with musicians and fellow music lovers.

Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor Eric Whitacre is among today’s most popular musicians. His works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united singers from more than 145 countries over the last decade. A graduate of Juilliard School of Music, Eric completed his second term as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 2020 having served five years as Composer in Residence at the University of Cambridge. In 2021, Eric was named a Yamaha Artist.

His long-form work The Sacred Veil, a profound meditation on love, life and loss, was premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and released on Signum Records in 2020. His recent collaboration with Spitfire Audio resulted in a trail-blazing vocal sample library, became an instant best-seller and is used by composers the world-over.  In 2021, Eric launches the Virtual School with its first course “The Beautiful Mess: Lessons in Composition and Creativity”.

Javier has scored dozens of films (Wrath of the Titans, Inkheart, etc) and has won an Emmy for Hemingway & Gellhorn and an Oscar nomination for Pan’s Labyrinth. He has embraced this occasion by offering an unusual and creative way to spend the hour together (you’ll see!) and generously sharing his philosophy on composing. Salastina resident artists will also perform his concert music live!