Mount Wilson Observatory Presents: Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome featuring Celestial Strings in the Dome at Mount Wilson Observatory

Mount Wilson Observatory—the place where humankind discovered its place in the universe—is pleased to announce the first date in its Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series taking place on Sunday, May 19, 2024. “Celestial Strings in the Dome'' features the pairing of Cécilia Tsan on cello and Marcia Dickstein on harp in the astounding acoustics of the 100” telescope dome at the Observatory. The program will include compositions by Antonio Vivaldi, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Nan Schwartz, Max Bruch, Claude Debussy, and John Williams. The same concert will be offered twice: first at 3:00pm and again at 5:00pm.

Each year, the six-month series, featuring classical or jazz programs, is thoughtfully curated by Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan (Principal Cellist, Long Beach Symphony). An artist reception with light fare and refreshments is offered between the performances. Tickets cost $60 each and are available for purchase online in advance (highly recommended) or at the door, given availability. 

For more information on the concert series, please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/concerts, where tickets for this and future concerts are available.

Audiences have long appreciated the unique combination of cello and harp. In this concert, Tsan and Dickstein meet again to offer listeners a program originally written for cello and keyboard and now interpreted for cello and harp. “Celestial Strings in the Dome'' will feature the following selections:

Antonio Vivaldi - Sonata No. 5 in E minor for Cello and Basso Continuo
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel - Fantasie in G minor for Cello & Piano
Nan Schwartz - Romanza
Max Bruch - Kol Nidrei for Cello & Piano
Claude Debussy - Sonata for Cello & Piano
John Williams - Schindler's List Theme for Cello & Piano

Seating inside the historic dome is limited. Access to the dome performances is via a 53-step staircase. Mount Wilson Observatory sits at a mile-high elevation so the air is noticeably thinner. There is no ADA-compliant access.