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The 27th season of the beloved Restoration Concerts at the South Pasadena Public Library Community Room kicked off Sunday with an exhilarating performance by LA Phil’s First Associate Concertmaster, violinist Nathan Cole, and celebrated pianist, Cindy Lam.
It was standing room only as Cole started off the concert with a solo performance of the Violin Sonata No.3 in C major by Johann Sebastian Bach. Cole, who also teaches at the Colburn School and USC, regaled the audience with the historical background and his personal experiences with each of the pieces, giving the audience an enriched experience. That, along with the exquisite setting of the historical building with its floor to ceiling windows overlooking hundred year old trees, and the staggering performances, made for an exciting musical adventure that evoked sophistication and warmth. The crowd was rapt and eagerly drank it all in.
Cole and Lam then played Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22 by Clara Schumann, the Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78 by Johannes Brahms, and concluded with Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla.
“It was beautiful,” said concertgoer, Kathrin Richards. “My favorite was the Brahms. It had such emotion.”
Thanks to The Restoration Concerts Committee, we have had access to these high caliber, live concerts here in South Pasadena for the past 26 years and the 27th year promises to be exceptional. The next concert will be on October 22 and will feature Cellist, Cecilia Tsan, and Steven Vanhauwaert on piano, who will be playing the music of Fauré, Brahms, Beethoven, Debussy, Nan Schwartz, and John Williams. My suggestion is to arrive 20-30 minutes in advance to purchase your ticket and grab your preferred seat as the seating is open. The acoustics in the Community Room are stellar, so there truly is not a bad seat in the house.
In addition to tickets available for purchase at the door, season tickets are now on sale for $136 for 8 concerts. Purchasing the season saves concertgoers $64 over ticket prices at the door. For more information, contact restorationconcerts@gmail.com and to see a listing of the entire season visit friendsofsopaslibrary.org/restoration-concerts
Coffee service is generously provided by Jones Coffee of Pasadena.
The Restoration Concerts Committee, a committee of the non-profit organization, The Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, has a goal to bring world-class music at an affordable price to the concertgoers in South Pasadena and surrounding communities. As the name suggests, net proceeds from the concerts provide for restorations, enhancements and other benefits to the South Pasadena Library and Community Room.
