Mount Wilson Observatory “Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome” w/ Zelter String Quartet

For Immediate Release:

Mount Wilson Observatory Presents
Zelter String Quartet
the Fourth Offering in its 8th Season of
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome
Held Inside the Historic Dome of the 100-Inch Telescope
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Performances at 3:00pm and 5:00pm

LOS ANGELES, CA – Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO)—Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history—is pleased to present the fourth Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome of its 2025 season inside the magnificent vaulted dome of MWO’s historic 100-inch telescope. On Sunday, August 3, 2025, back by popular demand, the audience is invited to experience the Zelter String Quartet, featuring Kyle Gilner and Gallia Kastner (violins), Carson Rick (viola), and Allan Hon (cello). The program will open with the World Premiere of Todd Mason's String Quartet No. 4. The second half of the concert’s program will present Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127.

As in previous seasons, Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan (Principal Cellist, Long Beach Symphony and Los Angeles Master Chorale) curates the series. Each concert date of the season features the same program presented twice—first at 3:00pm and again at 5:00pm. There will be an artist reception at 4:00pm between each concert’s hour-long session. Tickets cost $60 each and are available for purchase online in advance (highly recommended) or at the door, given availability. For more information on this concert, please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert080325. For more on the entire Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series, please visit https://www.mtwilson.edu/concerts.

PROGRAM NOTES:
The August 3 program will open with the World Premiere of Todd Mason's String Quartet No. 4, subtitled “City of Angels”—a work dedicated to the City of Los Angeles. The composer describes his inspiration for the piece:

“LA, as it’s commonly known, was carved out of the California desert and built with dreams of gold. It is a city that has endured endless trials—earthquakes, floods, water shortages, civil unrest, and most recently, the great fires of January, 2025. It is also a city that has constantly reinvented itself in just 150 years to become one of the greatest and most creative cities in the world. The first movement, “Restless City,” portrays the undercurrent of tension and struggle that have always been a part of LA. The second movement, “Dream City,” is about the enduring fantasy of LA—a place where anything has always seemed possible. The place where Hollywood was invented, and the California Dream, but also the place where scientific achievement, social experiments, and the arts prevailed. The third movement, “Irrepressible City,” is about the indomitable spirit of Los Angeles. No matter the trials, LA keeps pushing forward. The future is created in LA!”

The second half of the concert’s program will present Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127. As noted by Zelter String Quartet’s Carson Rick:

 “The first of his ‘Late’ Quartets, Opus 127 marks Beethoven’s transition into a new compositional approach for the string quartet—a medium to which he would contribute six towering works in the final five years of his life. Although the premiere of Opus 127 was not a success—the Schuppanzigh Quartet, who had premiered many of his earlier quartets, found themselves with insufficient rehearsal time and struggled to grasp Beethoven’s complex rhythmic interplay—this quartet has since become a cornerstone of the string quartet repertoire.

The first movement opens with bold, declamatory chords that evoke the heroic style of Beethoven’s earlier work, particularly the Eroica Symphony. This introduction dissolves as the first violin plays an improvisatory-like transition into the first theme, whose character is more flowing and introspective. At this point in his life, Beethoven had become increasingly interested in Brahmanic and Hindu philosophies, and the contemplative nature of this movement reflects a meditative quality that distinguishes it from his earlier works. The opening chords return twice more, each time louder and in more resonant keys. Yet each time, they dissolve.

The second movement is a theme and variations that explores a wide range of emotional and musical moods. The theme is prayerful and solemn, but the variations include moments of childlike simplicity, rustic dances, and, at the center, a serene hymn.

The third movement, which also begins with opening chords—this time plucked—offers a contrast to the previous two. It is playful, virtuosic, and folk-like. In the middle section, the music thins to a single chord repeated, shifting between major to minor, before transitioning into a whirling, raucous Presto.

The final movement opens similarly to the first and third, but this time the chords seem to pose a question. They rise uncertainly, leaving the question unanswered, then dissolve into a curious landscape of murmurs and outbursts. In the closing moments, the main theme reappears, accompanied by a babbling brook of scales, while the melody is gently hummed—as if Beethoven were quietly singing it to himself.”

Zelter String Quartet
Praised by LA Opus for their “seemingly effortless precision and blend,” and lauded by the Los Angeles Times as “captivating” with “instruments beautifully melding and resonating as one,” the Zelter String Quartet was formed in Los Angeles in 2018. The quartet is comprised of violinists Kyle Gilner and Gallia Kastner, violist Carson Rick, and cellist Allan Hon. The group was the Gold Prize Winner of the 2021 Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition and First Place Winner in the Piano/Strings Division of the 2023 Plowman Chamber Music Competition. 

In 2019, the Zelter String Quartet was awarded a full scholarship to participate in the St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar, where they worked with members of the St. Lawrence and Danish String Quartets. They were also invited to participate in the Rencontres Franco-Américaines de Musique de Chambre as part of the USC Thornton School of Music Ofiesh Chamber Music Competition in the Saint-Gildas-des-Bois area of France in 2020. They were featured artists in the 2023 season of the Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome at Mount Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles, and were quartet-in-residence and mentors for the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles for its inaugural concert in April 2024. Learn more at https://www.thezelterstringquartet.com.

Todd Mason (composer)
A Los Angeles native, Todd Mason (b.1957) received his master’s in composition from The Juilliard School. Mason received the Rodgers & Hammerstein Juilliard Scholarship, the First Place Award in the National Federation of Music Clubs, First Place in the Lancaster Summer Arts Festival, and the ASCAP Young Composers award, presented by Aaron Copland. His Chamber Suite (2020) recently won the First Place Award in the American String Teachers Association 75th Anniversary Composition Contest.

Mason’s compositions have been played by the Juilliard Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic, the Brno Philharmonic, numerous leading chamber ensembles, and by members of the Budapest Philharmonic, LA Opera Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His works have been performed in Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia, and have been featured at the Lancaster (USA) Summer Arts Festival, Astoria Music Festival (where he was composer-in-residence for two years), the Laguna Beach Arts Festival, Carlsbad Music Festival, Piano Spheres, Mount Wilson Observatory’s Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome (seven times), Chamber Music Palisades, Sunset ChamberFest (composer-in-residence in 2019), the University of Southern California, University of California Los Angeles, University of Las Vegas, Brigham Young University, and The Juilliard School. Mason’s Duo for Violin and Viola (2023) was recently admitted into the prestigious Primrose International Archive’s permanent collection and has been performed around the world. His Aurora Borealis for solo clarinet premiered at the Beethovenfest 2023 in Bonn.

Mason’s Violin Concerto, recorded with Dutch virtuoso Tosca Opdam and the Budapest Scoring Orchestra, was released in 2023 and described as  “A Wonderful 24-minute Fever Dream” (de Volkskrant), “Expressive and Virtuosic” (Classical Music Daily) and “A Superb Work” (Interlude). His Magical for flute, viola, and harp was commissioned in 2023 and premiered at Chamber Music Palisades in Los Angeles. In 2024, Mason was composer-in-residence at the Syros International Classical Festival in Greece.

Cécilia Tsan (Artistic Director)
Praised by the Los Angeles Times for her "uncompromising musical character and towering technique,” French-born cellist Cécilia Tsan graduated from the Paris Conservatory summa cum laude and is a prizewinner at the Barcelona, Florence, and Paris International Competitions.

An international soloist and chamber musician, she has recorded several CDs and hundreds of movie soundtracks in Hollywood. She serves as Principal Cello with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra. She is also the Artistic Director of the music series Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome at Mount Wilson Observatory.

Recent performances include John Williams’ Memoirs of a Geisha, Dvorák and Elgar Cello Concertos, and the Brahms Double Concerto. Cécilia has served as Principal Cello for the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys, American Idol, and Dancing with the Stars. In April 2019, she was invited by the LA Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Peter Sellars to be the narrator for Stravinsky’s Perséphone at Disney Hall.

In August 2024, Warner Classics released a 2-CD set dedicated to the music of John Williams, John Williams Reimagined, with Sara Andon (flute), Cécilia Tsan (cello), and Simone Pedroni (piano), produced by Robert Townson. A vast array of Williams' scores is arranged for flute, cello, and piano by Pedroni. The release was preceded and followed by international concert tours featuring the trio.

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THE REMAINING CONCERTS IN THE 2024 SEASON:
August 17 - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert081725
Celebrating Ben Powell
Leah Zeger (violin & vocals), Zach Dellinger (viola), Cécilia Tsan (cello), Roch Lockyer (guitar & vocals), and Brian Netzley (bass). Tsan shares, "We will be honoring our dear friend, the late Ben Powell, violinist extraordinaire who passed away much too soon in 2024. Ben opened our series at Mount Wilson in 2017 at the very first concert in the Dome. As Ben's friends, we will perform music from various genres, honoring his exceptional versatility on the violin and his beautiful soul."

August 31 - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert083125
Leelou and Friends
Leelou (vocals & cello), Tony Bredelet (vocals & guitar), and Arnaud Dunoyer (keyboard). Leelou, the young vocalist and cellist who was in the finals of The Voice in 2017 at age 11 and is now touring as Nefertari in the musical The 10 Commandments in Europe. A recent graduate of Pau Conservatory (Conservatoire Pau Béarn Pyrénées), she'll perform with friends, offering a variety of songs featuring the various genres that she loves.

September 21 - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert092125
New Hollywood String Quartet
Tereza Stanislav & Rafael Rishik (violins), Robert Brophy (viola), Andrew Shulman (cellos) guest appearance by Cécilia Tsan (cello.) Los Angeles Times Classical Music Critic Mark Swed wrote: “The New Hollywood String Quartet takes its inspiration from the famed Hollywood String Quartet, composed of studio musicians in the 1940s and ’50s. It had the reputation as America’s finest string quartet for its superbly silky sound and capacity for vivid drama…. That’s still true with the New Hollywood, formed in 2001, four decades after the original Hollywood Quartet disbanded.” This concert will offer an all-Schubert program: the “Quartettsatz,” followed by the "String Quintet, D956," with cellist Cécilia Tsan joining.

October 5 - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert100525
Musical Friends
Roger Wilkie (violin), Jonah Sirota (viola), Cécilia Tsan (cello), Geoff Osika (bass), Gigi Brady (oboe), and Sergio Coelho (clarinet). A winds & strings celebration. This program curated by Jonah Sirota will include works by Hans Gal, Britten, and Prokofiev.

October 19 - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert101925
Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas
Carte Blanche to Los Angeles’ all-female Mariachi Band

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ABOUT MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY
Since its founding in 1904 by astronomer and visionary George Ellery Hale, the research conducted at Mount Wilson Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. Perched on top of Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory boasts a rich history and significant contributions to science and the heritage of Los Angeles. The Observatory’s 100-inch Telescope—the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949—forever changed our understanding of the scale and nature of our Universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. This world-heritage class instrument, used by many of the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, launched a revolution in astronomy that continues through today.

Mount Wilson Institute has independently operated and maintained the Mount Wilson Observatory since 1989 under a long-term agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer months the Institute produces programs including observing sessions through the historic telescopes (the largest on the planet made available to the public), lectures, concerts, art exhibits, educational programs, and more. Many of these cultural offerings are presented inside the singular vaulted dome of the 100-inch Telescope.

All proceeds from ticketed events go to support Mount Wilson Institute in its mission to preserve, protect, and promote the Observatory and its scientific accomplishments.

Complete information on all the scientific, educational, and cultural activities at Mount Wilson Observatory can be found on their website https://www.mtwilson.edu.

THE VENUE
The 100-inch telescope is the instrument with which astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered our place in an expanding universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. The dome for the telescope—designed by seminal Chicago architect Daniel Burnham—is a 20th century temple to science whose acoustics rival the great cathedrals of Europe, a truly unique setting for this ambitious music series.

VISITING MWO
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum.

The Cosmic Cafe, located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer, and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Café offers wraps, salads, and sweet treats from Little Flower.  

LOCATION
Mount Wilson Observatory
Mount Wilson Circle Road & Mount Wilson Toll Road
Mount Wilson, CA 91023

On MWO’s website, the “Map” page shows various SoCal routes to the 2 and 210 Freeways which feed into Angeles Crest Highway leading to Red Box Road, which then leads to Mount Wilson Circle Road.

PLEASE NOTE: Do not rely on directions given by phone apps, they can be incorrect. We recommend downloading and printing this PDF map with directions.

PARKING
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory. A $5 day pass or a $30 dollar annual pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe on weekends between 10:00am and 5:00pm. During the week, passes are available at locations around Los Angeles. The most convenient location before heading up is at the Shell station in La Canada Flintridge at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway. Click here to go to the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about Passes and other locations to buy them.

NOT ADA-COMPLIANT
Please be advised that access to the 100-inch dome is via an open-air, 53-step staircase inside the building. There is no ADA-compliant access.

LINKS:

• Mount Wilson Observatory - https://www.mtwilson.edu
• Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome - https://www.mtwilson.edu/concerts
• August 3 Tickets - https://www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert080325
• MWO Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WilsonObs
• MWO Twitter - https://twitter.com/MtWilsonObs 
• MWO Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mtwilsonobservatory
• MWO Images including artist and concert photos - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ayaN3JNIKNbcPYqnxp_ILe9HHvENJGSa?usp=sharing

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For more information, photos, interviews, or press passes—about any of MWO's movie, concert, or lecture series—please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at lynn@greengalactic.com or 213-840-1201.

For Mount Wilson Observatory, please contact Sarah Emery Bunn at semerybunn@mtwilson.edu or 626-214-8030.