We are very excited to open our 59th season on Friday, September 24 at Harbor College and Sunday, September 26 at Pacific Unitarian Church. For the safety of our patrons, musicians, and all staff, we require that you be fully vaccinated and masked to attend these concerts. At the church we will keep all the doors open, so you might need a wrap.
Please join us for a most exciting and celebratory season opener with the incredible SAKURA Cello Quintet.
We are deeply grateful for your understanding and cooperation. We are all in this together. We will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation and will follow guidance from public health officials and government agencies.
Please join the South Bay Chamber Music Society for a virtual concert by the Robert Thies and Phillip Levy Duo, Sunday April 18, 2021 (or anytime after on our YouTube channel). These two world class musicians will be playing the following program. Enjoy!
Sonata in C minor for Piano and Violin, Op. 30 no. 2 …….. Beethoven
Sonata in G Major for Piano and Violin, Op. 78 …….. Brahms
Founded in 1979 in Los Angeles by John Walz and Edith Orloff, this renowned ensemble has played more than 1,000 concerts in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to touring, they serve as trio-inresidence at the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program in southern California.
In 1986, the trio made its New York debut at Lincoln Center, in a concert benefiting the New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Foundation. “Pacific Trio’s debut concert at Alice Tully Hall could easily have stood on its own merits, but the players had the generosity to turn the program into a benefit, donating all the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association. The members of the trio played with warmth, expertise, and unanimity . . .elegantly tapered, yet directly emotive playing.” (The New York Times).
Pacific Trio began recording in 1989, with a CD of Brahms and Shostakovich, followed by trios of Dvorak and Smetana. Since then, they have completed many extensive European tours and have recorded the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Czech National Orchestra in Prague. Their latest CD, “American Composers” – featuring music of Gershwin, Bernstein, Copland, and Muczynski – was released in fall of 2009 in conjunction with concerts in Germany, Poland, and France. Reviews in the German press rated their performances as….”chamber music of the highest order.”
The Thies Consort performs a wide range of works of varying instrumentation and size, thus allowing for innovative and unique programming with musical continuity based on a style, composer, or other concept.
Robert borrows from the talents of many musicians from Los Angeles and beyond to bring life, energy, and purpose to these unique programs. Typically the program is designed first, and then the musicians are approached. This format allows the program itself to be the primary focus.
When the Consort made its debut for the South Bay Chamber Music series, founder and pianist, Sidney Stafford remarked afterwards, “I think this is the best concert our organization has ever presented in the past 46 years.” That first program centered around the great French composers and featured Ravel’s monumental Trio in A minor, and Franck’s Piano Quintet.
The following year, the Consort presented music from the former Soviet Republics, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Estonia, and Georgia, entitled Beyond Russia. In 2010 and 2011, the Thies Consort presented two programs profiling Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, combining their chamber music with their celebrated art song. And in 2013, The Thies Consort commemorated the 60th anniversary of the death of Russian master, Sergei Prokofiev, by presenting his complete Chamber Sonatas, all considered masterpieces.
To catch an upcoming performance, please check the concert schedule
To book The Thies Consort, please send an email to Robert at [email protected].