Filtering by: Romantic

Sounds Delicious: An Alice in Wonderland High Tea
Jun
7
1:00 PM13:00

Sounds Delicious: An Alice in Wonderland High Tea

The Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills opens its doors to Salastina for an Alice in Wonderland-themed High Tea. The venue's exterior boasts a large black-and-white checkerboard floor; terraced, Italianate, and palm gardens; boxwood hedges; roses galore; and quirky signage. The inside features an incredible tea room, library, and music salon. It’s the perfect place to bring Lewis Carroll’s famed tale to life. Our Sounds Delicious team, including Chef Becky Brown and Experience Designer Mercedes Curran, lend their talents to this immersive, playful, delightfully whimsical event in partnership with the Virgina Robinson Gardens. Don’t miss this perfect way to kick off the summer and close out Salastina’s 15th Anniversary Season.

On the musical program: The Jabberwocky Song, Cherry Ripe by Frank Bridge, Romance in G minor by Arthur Sullivan, Late Swallows by Frederick Delius, and an original medley of songs from the 1951 classic animated film adaptation.


The Menu

Welcome cocktail:

  • Sweet cherry tart aperitif

Savory selections:

  • Smoked salmon and dill tea sandwiches

  • English pea falafel bite with whipped tahini cream (Vegan)

  • Quiche tartlet with asparagus and herbs 

  • Pimento cheese toast 

Tea:

  • Earl Grey

Scones:

  • Cream tea scones, served with housemade strawberry rhubarb jam and clotted cream 

Sweet selections:

  • "Eat me" glazed butter cookies

  • Magic mushroom meringues

  • Butterfly and lavender flower tea cakes

  • Assorted Macarons 

Tea:

• Herbal 


Valet parking add-on for $55 per car. Street parking and rideshare drop off on Elden Way is strictly prohibited. Neighborhood street parking is limited to two hours.

This event is for guests 12 years of age and up.

*menu subject to change

tickets and event info →
Happy Hour No. 130: The Music and Magic of Tumble Leaf
May
24
11:00 AM11:00

Happy Hour No. 130: The Music and Magic of Tumble Leaf

  • Fine Arts Auditorium at The Ebell of Los Angeles (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Something new is in the Finding Place…

It’s the composer and creator of Amazon’s hit stop-motion animated children’s show, Tumble Leaf!

Sing along to the theme song with Lisbeth Scott, the woman who wrote it. Meet Tumble Leaf creator and director Drew Hodges and executive producer Kelli Bixler. Create your own stop-motion animation with the puppets and behind-the-scenes technology from the show. Build your own instruments like Fig and the Beetle Band Bus. Try your hand at real, kid-sized classical instruments like the violin and cello with the help of our musicians — who’ve played on your family’s favorite soundtracks (like Frozen, Encanto, Moana, and Star Wars). And write your own tunes for Salastina’s musicians to play for you right then and there.

Oh, and yes: there will be snacks. Lots of snacks.

Don’t miss this whimsical, creative, and memorable event — Salastina’s first for kids!

Program:
10:30 AM Interactive Activity Stations Open
11:00 AM The Music and Magic of Tumble Leaf Concert Begins 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM Interactive Activity Stations Reopen

General Admission $25; Students with ID $10; Salastina Members (Friend-level and above) receive 20% discount; Free tickets for those directly affected by the January wildfires; Tickets for children under two are free

Salastina thanks the Seaver Institute for underwriting this event.

tickets and event info →
Sunday Morning Music at BroadStage
Apr
27
11:00 AM11:00

Sunday Morning Music at BroadStage

Salastina joins BroadStage’s Sunday Morning Music series with 19th-century German repertoire celebrating romantic love and domestic bliss. On the program: works by Brahms, Schumann, and Wagner. Brian Lauritzen puts the program in a relatable context between pieces.

Program:
Clara Schumann: 3 Romances, Op. 22: I. Andante molto Johannes Brahms: Intermezzo Op. 118: No. 2 and No. 5 Robert Schumann: 3 Romances Op. 94: II. Einfach, innig Richard Wagner: Siegfried Idyll

tickets and event info →
Sounds Delicious: A Gilded Christmas Brunch
Dec
15
11:00 AM11:00

Sounds Delicious: A Gilded Christmas Brunch

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.

tickets and event info →
Vital Sounds Fundraiser: The Wine and Music of "Home"
Dec
7
3:30 PM15:30

Vital Sounds Fundraiser: The Wine and Music of "Home"

Begin your holiday season joyfully with a unique, bespoke wine and music experience supporting Salastina’s Vital Sounds Program.

Our colleague and friend Natalie Leggett, a beautiful violinist and wine expert, connects a sense of Home in music to that of terroir in wine. Each of our four wine and music pairings has a mutually-amplifying, beautiful story to savor. The musical program includes selections from Eric Whitacre's You Feel Like Home: Suite from The Sacred Veil, which Salastina premiered and recorded earlier this year, as well as “Going Home” From Antonin Dvorak’s beloved New World Symphony. Small plates will also be provided.

The Cellar in Old Town Pasadena is the perfect cozy, intimate spot to enjoy these inspired wine and music pairings.

All donations received through this event support Salastina's Vital Sounds Program. Vital Sounds provides free, virtual, one-on-one bedside concerts to critically ill patients at Huntington Health and UCLA Medical Center five days a week.

All proceeds benefit Salastina's Vital Sounds Program. Ticket costs are tax-deductible, less $246 per attendee, as allowed by law. If you attend with someone else, you’ll both qualify for a year of Digital Member Benefits.

Salastina thanks Board Member Dr. Nirav Kamdar for generously underwriting this event.

tickets and event info →
Happy Hour No. 127: Hidden Flame
Nov
23
11:00 AM11:00

Happy Hour No. 127: Hidden Flame

A few months ago, Salastina’s Resident Cellist Yoshika Masuda and Resident Pianist HyeJin Kim released Hidden Flame on Avie Records. The album contains music by Amy Beach, Clara Schumann, Rita Strohl, Nadia Boulanger, Maria Theresia Paradis, and a world-premiere by Reena Esmail. Yoshi described the album's purpose: “musicians and music lovers often feel confident that great works must already be a part of the standard repertoire. However, this album proves that there are hidden gems that deserve more recognition out there!" For this Happy Hour, audiences will be treated to Yoshi and HyeJin performing select works featured on the album live. Throughout, Co-Artistic Director Maia Jasper White hosts a conversation between Yoshi, HyeJin, and the audience about repertoire selection and the recording process as a whole.

Mimosa and pastry reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Frédéric Chopin: Waltz in A minor (West Coast Premiere) Amy Beach: Romance Op. 23
Reena Esmail: one word makes a world
Rita Strohl: Great Dramatic Sonata, "Titus et Bérénice"

Artists:
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist

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

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Main Series No. 2: Schubert’s Cello Quintet Sounds Genius
Nov
8
to Nov 9

Main Series No. 2: Schubert’s Cello Quintet Sounds Genius

Friday, Nov 8, 2024 @ 8 PM - West LA
Moroccan Room at The Village Studios
(map)

Saturday, Nov 9, 2024 @ 8 PM - Pasadena
Westerbeck Recital Hall at the Pasadena City College
(map)
+ Livestream

Classical musicians don’t often fight over who will get to play second. This beloved work by Schubert is a notorious exception. Each part is so immaculately constructed that the second cello part is, in some ways, more satisfying. Cellist Michael Kannen (Brentano Quartet) joins Salastina’s Resident Artists to dive deep into this incredible piece, with Resident Host Brian Lauritzen as your guide.

Reception with the artists to follow.

Program:
Franz Schubert: Cello Quintet in C major

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

Early Access for Members at the Supporter + Level

 
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Main Series No. 1: Brahms’ Complete Piano Trios Sound Genius
Oct
5
3:30 PM15:30

Main Series No. 1: Brahms’ Complete Piano Trios Sound Genius

  • Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Please note that this concert is now taking place at Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music.

Want to fill your heart, mind, and soul to bursting? If you can handle the intensity of an all-day marathon of the complete piano trios of Johannes Brahms, consider this your formal invitation.


Concert 1 @ 3:30 PM

Concert 1 includes the beloved B Major Piano Trio and the epic E Flat Major Trio for Piano, Violin, and Horn. Take a dinner break at any Pasadena restaurant nearby (many great ones are within walking distance) before indulging in another gluttonous feast of Brahms’ German Romanticism.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow each performance.

Program: Concert 1
Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8
Johannes Brahms: Horn Trio in E-flat major, Op. 40

Artists: Concert 1
Kevin Kumar, Co-Artistic Director and Resident Violinist
Zach Mowitz, Guest Cellist
David Cooper, Guest Horn Player
Rodolfo Leone, Guest Pianist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

3 PM: Early Access for Members at the Supporter + Level


Concert 2 @ 7:30 PM

Save room for dessert: Concert 2 includes the C Major and C Minor Piano Trios and the Trio for Piano, Clarinet, and Cello.

Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow each performance.

Due to our guest artist’s contractual obligations, we regret that we cannot livestream Concert 2.

Program: Concert 2
Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101
Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114
Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87

Artists: Concert 2
Randall Goosby, Guest Violinist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist
Sergio Coelho, Guest Clarinetist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

6:30 PM: Early Access for Members at the Supporter + Level

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Happy Hour No. 123: Sounds Mysterious with Brian Lauritzen
Sep
14
11:00 AM11:00

Happy Hour No. 123: Sounds Mysterious with Brian Lauritzen

  • Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Few musicians possess the cojones and humility to perform music blind. And by “blind,” we do NOT mean sightreading; the musicians have practiced and rehearsed!

Rather, we mean the musicians don’t know what they’re playing. Not the composer, the piece title, when and where it was written… nada.

Sounds Mysterious is a musical scavenger hunt in which the musicians and audience solve those mysteries together.

This time, all of Salastina’s Resident Artists have chosen a short piece to stump everyone else in the ensemble.

The music our Resident Artists have chosen is readily accessible, consummately listenable, and delightfully unexpected. We can't be more specific about the repertoire. But we can promise:

  • laughter, collegiality, and plenty of razzing amongst the musicians

  • ample opportunities to hear audience members’ intuitions and insights -- and share your own

  • the joy of musical discovery

Mimosa and pastry reception with the artists to follow.

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

Program:
Mystery Work for Flute, Violin, and Piano, chosen by Benjamin Smolen (Nino Rota Trio - I. Allegro non troppo)
Mystery Work for Flute, Violin, and Piano, chosen by HyeJin Kim (Mel Bonis Suite en trio, Op. 59 II. Pastorale)
Mystery Work for Violin and Viola, chosen by Brian Lauritzen (Courtney Bryan And What I Mean is This)
Mystery Work for Violin and Piano, chosen by Yoshika Masuda (Rita Strohl, Solitude)
Mystery Work for Cello and Piano, chosen by Maia Jasper White (Leone Sinigaglia 2 Stücke, Op. 16: II. Humoreske)
Mystery Work for Piano Trio, chosen by Meredith Crawford (Ludwig Philipp Schawenka Piano Trio No. 1 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 100: II. Allegro)
Mystery Work for Piano Quintet, chosen by Kevin Kumar (Jean Cras Piano Quintet: II. Calme et paisible)

tickets and event info →
Members Only Chamber Music Reading Party and Season Launch
Sep
8
2:00 PM14:00

Members Only Chamber Music Reading Party and Season Launch

  • Home of Philip and Maia Jasper White (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Play with the pros in Co-Artistic Director Maia Jasper White’s living room.

Salastina’s roster of Resident Artists will play through any piece of your choosing with you, allowing for instrumentation. (Our forces: string quartet, piano, and flute.) Simply let us know what you’d like to play no later than three days before the event to give us time to locate the sheet music.

This event is free for Members. Non-members must become Members for the year to participate. Membership begins at $20/month and is fully tax-deductible.

tickets and event info →
Salastina Takes Los Olivos
Jun
21
to Jun 23

Salastina Takes Los Olivos

Music, wine, food, wine, good company, wine, a beautiful natural setting… and also wine. Savor worlds Old and New at this first-of-its-kind exclusive weekend away with Salastina.

Ticket sales for the full weekend package and day trips are now closed.

Friday, June 21

  • Our friend and colleague Natalie Leggett, a wonderful violinist — and winner of the 2022 California Wine Institute Award — hosts private tastings for us with her winemaker friends at Dragonette and Holus Bolus.

  • Walk to Fess Parker Wine Country Inn for dinner at its in-house restaurant, Nella — plus a private performance with Salastina musicians.

Saturday, June 22

  • At eleven, a bus takes us from Fess Parker Wine Country Inn to Brander Château Estate for a private wine tasting. While there, we’ll enjoy a picnic lunch from Coast Range — and visit Brander’s unique Folk Art Museum, including a concert in the Barrel Vault next door.

  • We’ll head back to Fess Parker to rest for an hour or so.

  • At 4:00, hop back on the bus to Lumen’s Warner Henry Vineyard for an exclusive winemaker tour with Will Henry.

  • At the conclusion of the tour, we’ll enjoy dinner at Lumen’s fabulous Pico Restaurant in charming Los Alamos.

Sunday, June 23

  • Head to Roblar Winery for the area’s best brunch under the big oak tree.

  • Check out of Fess Parker and meet us in Solvang for a farewell concert at the historic Old Mission Santa Ines.

FAQ

Q: Do I have to drive myself anywhere?
A: We are renting a bus on Saturday, June 22 only. If you have purchased the complete weekend package, you are responsible for getting yourself to Los Olivos on Friday, June 21. Upon arrival that day, driving anywhere else will not be necessary. You are also responsible for driving yourself to Sunday’s activities and back to Los Angeles.

Q: How much walking will be involved?
A: On Friday, the tasting rooms are just around the corner from our hotel — only 0.1 miles away. The winemaker tour at Lumen will involve some light walking (a maximum of half a mile).

Q: What can I do with the downtime on Saturday?

A: You can book a massage or spa treatment at Fess Parker at your own expense, or explore the charming town of Los Olivos, its shopping, and tasting rooms freely. This is your time to relax and indulge in the local offerings in your own way and at your own pace.

Q: Is there a Member discount?
A: No. Our 20% Member discount applies only to Main Series and Happy Hour concerts.

Q: Are tickets refundable?
A: No. We are on the hook for the hotel and several meals 90 days before the trip. If you cancel and we can’t resell, we are short those funds. If you buy tickets and are ultimately unable to attend, the full value of your ticket(s) will be turned into a fully tax-deductible donation—with all the applicable Member benefits.

Q: Is the trip tax-deductible?
A: Those who purchased the full weekend package receive a $500 tax deduction and the corresponding Friend-Level Member Benefits. Those purchasing each day’s activities receive a $240 tax deduction and the corresponding Digital-Level Member Benefits. The rest of the ticket price is is not tax-deductible, as plenty of goods and services will be exchanged throughout the weekend.

tickets and event info →
Main Series No. 5: Schubert and the Pummel of Hummel
Jun
14
to Jun 16

Main Series No. 5: Schubert and the Pummel of Hummel

Friday, June 14, 2024 @ 8 PM - West LA
Edye Second Space at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center
(map)

Saturday, June 15, 2024 @ 8 PM - Pasadena
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (
map)
+ Livestream

Sunday, June 16, 2024 @ 3 PM - Lake Forest, CA (map)
Weinstein Performance Space at Chamber Music | OC

If you love dead, white, male German composers as much as we do – and are not (yet!) familiar with the greatness of Johann Nepomuk Hummel – this concert exploring the arbitrariness of fame is for you.

In 1819, Hummel organized a concert to celebrate the world premiere performance of one of his works; for the occasion, Schubert wrote the Trout Quintet for the same combination of instruments. Guess which piece is all anyone remembers?

Salastina recreates this concert so that you can judge whether or not posterity was fair in jettisoning a composer with a name as awesome as “Nepomuk.”

Wine and sachertorte reception to follow.

Program:
Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Grand Rondo Brillant, Op. 126 for flute and piano
Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Piano Quintet Op. 87
Franz Schubert: Piano Quintet D 667 “The Trout”

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Ted Botsford, Guest Bassist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

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

The votes are all in! Click through to see the results from each ‘county’ errr location.

 
tickets and event info →
The Universe Sounds Delicious
Apr
28
6:00 PM18:00

The Universe Sounds Delicious

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

tickets and event info →
Happy Hour No. 121: Sounds Mysterious with Brian Lauritzen
Apr
14
10:00 AM10:00

Happy Hour No. 121: Sounds Mysterious with Brian Lauritzen

  • Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

tickets and event info →
Main Series No. 3: Brahms' Piano Quintet Sounds Genius
Mar
8
to Mar 9

Main Series No. 3: Brahms' Piano Quintet Sounds Genius

Friday, March 8, 2024 @ 8 PM - West LA (map)
Edye Second Space at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center


Saturday, March 9, 2024 @ 8 PM - Pasadena
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (
map)
+ Livestream

What happens when a symphonist writes for 5 instruments? In this case, a masterpiece for the ages. Brian Lauritzen dissects what makes Brahms’ Piano Quintet such a perfect piece of music before a full performance of the work. Mimosa and munchies reception to follow.

Program:
Johannes Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34

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.

tickets and event info →
A Salastina.calm Valentine's Day
Feb
14
8:00 PM20:00

A Salastina.calm Valentine's Day

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.

tickets and event info →
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)
Jun
11
7:30 PM19:30

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)

  • Rothenberg Hall at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Composed during an incredibly difficult period of converging crises in Mahler’s life, this piece — based on classical Chinese poetry — is about the beauty and transience of life. It’s sublimation at its finest.

Arnold Schoenberg, of all people, arranged what Leonard Bernstein called Mahler’s “greatest symphony” for chamber ensemble. Specifically: 2 singers, string quintet, piano, winds, percussion… and no conductor (because #chambermusic, duh).

Do not miss this one-night-only performance at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. To get in the mood before dinner, you are welcome to wander the Huntington’s grounds from 3:00 - 5:00 PM free with your concert ticket purchase.

From 5:00 - 7:30 PM, you may either bring your own picnic dinner to enjoy at the tables at the inside entrance of the Huntington OR enjoy dinner out in nearby San Marino, South Pasadena, or Pasadena proper.

Pre-concert drinks and post-concert wine and hors-d’oeuvres reception.

What to Know Before You Go


Program:
Gustav Mahler, arranged by Arnold Schoenberg and Rainer Reihn: Das Lied von der Erde

Artists:
Clara Osowski, Mezzo Soprano
Thomas Cooley, Tenor
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Ted Botsford, Double Bassist
Ben Smolen, Resident Flutist/Piccolo player
Lara Wickes, Guest Oboist/English Horn player
Don Foster, Guest Clarinetist
Alex Rosales Garcia, Guest Bassoonist
Dylan Skye Hart, Guest French Horn player
Micah Yui, Guest Pianist
John Sawoski, Guest Keyboardist
Eddie Meneses and Jonathan Wisner, Guest Percussionists
Camilla Tassi, Projection Designer
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

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

tickets and event info →
Happy Hour No. 114: the New Hollywood String Quartet
Jun
4
11:00 AM11:00

Happy Hour No. 114: the New Hollywood String Quartet

  • Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Get a sneak peek of the NHSQ’s 2023 Summer Festival. This year’s focus: early 20th Century French music. How do they say… le sigh?

The members of this quartet are all dear friends and colleagues from LA’s recording studios. And they are beasts of musicians. After a little conversation and a performance of some of their festival repertoire, we’ll sightread some electrifying octet music together. And as with all of our Happy Hours this season: enjoy music, mingling, mimosas, and munchies.

Salastina Members may watch live for free in our Members-Only Lounge. Non-Members may purchase tickets below.

tickets and event info →
Happy Hour No. 113: Luthier Mario Miralles
May
6
11:00 AM11:00

Happy Hour No. 113: Luthier Mario Miralles

Who is the Stradivarius of our time? Mario Miralles is one answer. His instruments are coveted by string players worldwide; you’ve heard them on all the world’s major stages. And his waiting list is miles long.

A wildly generous anonymous donor commissioned Mario to build a violin, viola, and cello for Salastina’s Resident Artists’ use. This is a gift beyond any of our wildest dreams, and the process has been riveting.

Yoshi’s cello is already finished; if you’ve been to any of our concerts this season, you’ve heard it! By the time of this event, Maia’s violin will be finished, and Meredith’s viola will be gestating. (If you’re wondering about Kevin: he already owns one, having purchased it several years ago.)

This event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to hear about the different stages of a luthier’s process. The musicians for whom he’s building the instruments will speak to what the process is like from their perspective, and what they’re looking for in an instrument. Mario, a notoriously private figure, can then address how he translates those abstract artistic wishes into physical reality. And of course… you’ll hear them!

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Salastina.calm
Apr
28
to Apr 29

Salastina.calm

Friday, April 28 @ 8 PM
The Edye at the Broad Stage
(map)


Saturday, April 29 @ 8 PM
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (
map)
+ Livestream


Say Salastinaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah as we envelop you in a stunning musical playlist specifically designed to bring on a healing ugly cry. Reception to follow.

Program:
Arvo Pärt: Spiegel Im Spiegel
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Quinteto Instrumental - II. Lento
Samuel Barber: Adagio for Strings
Ernest Chausson: Piano Quartet - II. Très calme
William Grant Still: Summerland
Aaron Copland: Midsummer Nocturne
Clara Schumann: Piano Trio - III. Andante
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet Opus 59 No. 2 - II. Molto Adagio. Si tratta questo pezzo con molto di sentimento

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
HyeJin Kim, Resident Pianist
Benjamin Smolen, Resident Flutist
Cristina Montes Mateo, Guest Harpist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

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Resident Artist Showcase: Meredith and Yoshi
Mar
24
to Mar 25

Resident Artist Showcase: Meredith and Yoshi

Friday, March 24 @ 8 PM
The Edye at the Broad Stage
(map)

Saturday, March 25 @ 8 PM
Barrett Hall at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music (
map)
+ Livestream

When your Resident Artists are this good, you owe it to everyone to shine a giant spotlight on them once in a while. Meredith’s luscious tone and keen sense of beauty shine in Vaughan Williams’ Suite for Viola. And Schumann’s Cello Concerto, arranged for chamber ensemble, has been on Yoshi’s wishlist for years. Who needs orchestral accompaniment when your chamber music friends have your back?

Complimentary wine to be served beginning at 7:30 PM for both performances. Wine reception resumes after the performance with the addition of munchies.

For venue info and more, click What To Know Before You Go!
Program:
Paul Hindemith: Trauermusik
Henri Casadesus: Concerto in the style of J.C. Bach
Robert Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Opus 129

Artists:
Meredith Crawford, Resident Violist
Yoshika Masuda, Resident Cellist
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, Co-Artistic Directors and Violinists
Jonathan Moerschel, Guest Violist
Ross Gasworth, Guest Cellist
Stephanie Payne, Guest Bassist
Brian Lauritzen, Resident Host

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OC Chamber Music Reading Party
Sep
11
6:00 PM18:00

OC Chamber Music Reading Party

Calling all Amateur Instrumentalists Intermediate-level and above!

Want to experience the thrill of playing alongside Salastina's Resident Artists and Co-Artistic Directors in an intimate, private, casual setting? Join us for a chamber music reading party at a private home near the Segerstrom Center in Santa Ana.

Bring any music you'd like to play with us. We'd recommend piano and string trios by Beethoven, quartets by Haydn and Mozart, and anything else you feel comfortable and confident playing through with us -- and in front of those gathered for the occasion.

Because space is limited, priority will be given to Salastina Members. The exact address will be given to attendees 24 hours before the event.

There is no cost to attend. RSVP by September 8th. Be sure to include your instrument, approximate skill level, the info on any pieces you’d like to play, and the number of guests in your party.

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Happy Hour No. 101: Sounds Promising Alum, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer, Violist and Composer
May
10
6:00 PM18:00

Happy Hour No. 101: Sounds Promising Alum, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer, Violist and Composer

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.

Before sharing the work of our current crop of Sounds Promising Young Composers May 31 and June 14, we check in with a distinguished alum of the program: Sakari Dixon Vanderveer. A member of the New Music USA Program Council and a Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Composer Teaching Artist Fellow, Sakari's desire to empower youth also remains a catalyst behind much of her work.

She recently founded the You(th) Can Compose! Summer Workshop, a personalized, online intensive program for students ages 10-18 who are new to composing. Sakari’s aim is that children from all walks of life will gain access to contemporary music and composition, allowing them to develop a better appreciation and understanding of concert music – new and old – so that they, too, can cherish it and engage with it throughout their entire lives.

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Happy Hour No. 99: Claire Brazeau, Oboist
Apr
26
6:00 PM18:00

Happy Hour No. 99: Claire Brazeau, Oboist

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.

Claire Brazeau is the principal oboist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. An omnivorous musician, Claire can be heard performing period instruments with the Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra followed by a concert of world premieres with new music collective Wild Up, of which she is a member. In addition to her concert season, Claire is an active freelance studio musician who has recorded for several film and TV soundtrack recordings. Find her @oboejones for hot tips and tricks for the oboe, as well as upcoming performances.

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Main Series Concert No. 5: Pasadena + Livestream
Apr
24
4:00 PM16:00

Main Series Concert No. 5: Pasadena + Livestream

The phrase “Here Be Dragons” means “dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of a medieval practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea monsters and other mythological creatures on uncharted areas of maps where potential dangers were thought to exist.”

Join us for music reflecting a poetic idea that’s been very front-of-mind for us all.

Program:
Mikhail Gnessin: Songs of a Knight Errant
Yun Isang: Oboe Quartet - Part II
Joaquin Turina: I. Las cuevas del Dragón
Carolina Eyck: Fantasias for String Quartet and Theremin - III. Sleepy Dragon and IV. Jumping River

Intermission

Salvador Brotons: Allegro Spiritoso
Derrick Skye: Old Soul, Different Body (world premiere)
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 for Piano Trio - IV. Allegro Molto

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford, violist
Yoshika Masuda, cellist
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist
Ben Brogadir, oboe
Steve Bryson, theremin player
Derrick Skye, electronics player
Brian Lauritzen, host

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Main Series Concert No. 5: Westside
Apr
23
6:00 PM18:00

Main Series Concert No. 5: Westside

The phrase “Here Be Dragons” means “dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of a medieval practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea monsters and other mythological creatures on uncharted areas of maps where potential dangers were thought to exist.”

Join us for music reflecting a poetic idea that’s been very front-of-mind for us all.

Program:
Mikhail Gnessin: Songs of a Knight Errant
Yun Isang: Oboe Quartet - Part II
Joaquin Turina: I. Las cuevas del Dragón
Carolina Eyck: Fantasias for String Quartet and Theremin - III. Sleepy Dragon and IV. Jumping River

Intermission

Salvador Brotons: Allegro Spiritoso
Derrick Skye: Old Soul, Different Body (world premiere)
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 for Piano Trio - IV. Allegro Molto

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford, violist
Yoshika Masuda, cellist
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist
Ben Brogadir, oboe
Steve Bryson, theremin player
Derrick Skye, electronics player
Brian Lauritzen, host

tickets and event info →
Main Series Concert No. 5: Orange County
Apr
22
8:00 PM20:00

Main Series Concert No. 5: Orange County

The phrase “Here Be Dragons” means “dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of a medieval practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea monsters and other mythological creatures on uncharted areas of maps where potential dangers were thought to exist.”

Join us for music reflecting a poetic idea that’s been very front-of-mind for us all.

Program:
Mikhail Gnessin: Songs of a Knight Errant
Yun Isang: Oboe Quartet - Part II
Joaquin Turina: I. Las cuevas del Dragón
Carolina Eyck: Fantasias for String Quartet and Theremin - III. Sleepy Dragon and IV. Jumping River

Intermission

Salvador Brotons: Allegro Spiritoso
Derrick Skye: Old Soul, Different Body (world premiere)
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 for Piano Trio - IV. Allegro Molto

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford, violist
Yoshika Masuda, cellist
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Cristina Montes Mateo, harpist
Ben Brogadir, oboe
Steve Bryson, theremin player
Derrick Skye, electronics player
Brian Lauritzen, host

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Happy Hour No. 98: Here Be Dragons Preview with Steve Bryson, theremin player
Apr
19
6:00 PM18:00

Happy Hour No. 98: Here Be Dragons Preview with Steve Bryson, theremin player

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.

Our next live concert, Here Be Dragons, takes its dragons theme both literally and metaphorically.

Some pieces musically depict dragons; others are more broadly about the dragons as a metaphor for "uncharted waters" (read: the unknown).

Tune in to learn how and why we chose each piece -- and about the theremin! Theremin Player Steve Bryson will give us a peek into the inner workings of the theremin, as well as its many uses in Carolina Eyck’s Fantasias.

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Main Series Concert No. 4: Pasadena + Livestream
Mar
27
4:00 PM16:00

Main Series Concert No. 4: Pasadena + Livestream

After the year we’ve had, we could all use a little R&R. Some deep breaths. A cathartic ugly-cry.

Join us for a slow-movement orgy we’ve taken to calling “Salastina.calm.”

Program:
Reena Esmail: Saans
Claude Debussy: Syrinx
Johann Sebastian Bach: Suite for Solo Cello in D minor - I. Prelude
Hildegard von Bingen: Antiphon
Osvaldo Golijov: Tenebrae - Part II
Dmitri Shostakovich: Elegy for String Quartet
George Walker: Lyric for String Quartet
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Vocalise
Louise Farrenc: Trio for Piano, Flute, and Cello - II. Andante
Thomas Adès: Arcadiana - VI. O Albion
Johannes Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C minor - II. Romanze. Poco adagio
Erich Wolfgang Korngold: Piano Quintet in E major, Op. 15 - II. Adagio. With great calm, always extremely expressive

Artists:
Kevin Kumar and Maia Jasper White, violinists
Meredith Crawford, violist
Yoshika Masuda, cellist
HyeJin Kim, pianist
Benjamin Smolen, flutist
Brian Lauritzen, host

tickets and event info →