Music Guild’s 37th Season to Begin With Cellist Antonio Lysy

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

St. Matthew’s Music Guild will officially open its 37th season of concerts with internationally acclaimed cellist Antonio Lysy, who will join The Chamber Orchestra on Friday, October 8, at 8 p.m.

Music Director Dwayne S. Milburn will conduct music by Beethoven, Dvorak and Ginastera.

“Lysy has performed as a soloist in major concert halls worldwide,” according to a statement from the guild ahead of the performance. “He has collaborated with distinguished conductors, including Yuri Temirkanov, Charles Dutoit, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Sàndor Végh and Kees Bakels, and continues to perform regularly both as a solo and chamber music artist.”

Lysy has recorded for CBC Radio, BBC Radio, Classic FM and other radio stations based in Europe.

“Lysy enjoys exploring the versatility of the cello’s voice, from Baroque to electric, and is committed to projects which enrich his diverse interests in music,” the guild continued. “In the summer of 2003, Lysy accepted the position of professor of cello at University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to moving to the United States, he held a professorship at McGill University in Montréal.

“He will be featured in Dvorak’s quiet tone poem, ‘Silent Woods,’ and Alberto Ginastera’s rousing ‘Pampeana No. 2,’ a work inspired by the vast Argentinian Pampas region.”

During the concert, the orchestra will bookend the two pieces with the “Egmont Overture” and “Symphony No. 7”—both works by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The unofficial start to the season took place at St. Matthew’s on September 17 with featured artist Boris Allakhverdyan of Los Angeles Philharmonic. The bonus “thank you” concert was added to show gratitude to the guild’s more than 250 subscribers for their support and generosity through the pandemic.

“The Music Guild, like other arts organizations, is following strict guidelines in order to protect the safety of those in attendance and their musicians,” according to event organizations. “The Guild has released the following statement: ‘We want our audience and our musicians to feel safe and secure so that everyone can fully enjoy our concerts. To that end, everyone attending our live concerts will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to the concert and will be required to wear a mask while indoors.’”

The concert will take place at St. Matthew’s Church, located at 1031 Bienveneda Ave. Tickets are $35 for a single show, with season subscriptions available.

For more information, including about season subscriptions and tickets, visit musicguildonline.org or call 310-573-7422.