Piano Quartets at Mount Wilson Observatory's Dome

Most concerts in Los Angeles don't make you drive up a mountain and climb 53 steps to your seat. This one does, and that's the point. On Sunday, October 4, Mount Wilson Observatory wraps up its 2026 Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series with "Piano Quartets," played inside the vaulted dome that houses the observatory's historic 100-inch telescope.

The program

Four players take the stage: David Kaplan on piano, Ambroise Aubrun on violin, Ariana Solotoff on viola and Cécilia Tsan on cello. Tsan is also the series' artistic director. She's principal cellist of the Long Beach Symphony and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and she curates every date on the calendar.

They're playing two pieces. Mahler's Piano Quartet in A minor is a single movement he wrote as a student, and it's short, dark and a little stormy. Brahms' Piano Quartet No. 3 in C minor, Op. 60, is the bigger work, and it's got one of his most heartfelt slow movements.

The piano

The keyboard gets its own billing this time. It's a 1907 Steinway Model O grand in ebony, donated to the observatory by Dr. James Vail, professor emeritus of choral and sacred music at USC. Teri Meredyth restored it, and it made its Mount Wilson debut in April. It's been part of every concert this season, and October 4 is its last outing of the year.

How the day works

The same program runs twice: once at 3pm and again at 5pm. Each set lasts about an hour, with an artist reception at 4pm in between. Tickets are $65 each and sold online through the observatory. Pick the time slot that fits your drive, since the listing shows the whole afternoon running from 3pm to 6pm.

Come early if you can. The gate opens at 10am, grounds entry is free, and you can hike, walk past the telescope domes or browse old photos and letters in the museum. The Cosmic Cafe above the main lot sells hot dogs, wraps, salads and snacks on weekends.

Practical info

• Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
• Shows: 3pm and 5pm, with a 4pm reception
• Venue: Mount Wilson Observatory, up the Angeles Crest Highway above La Cañada Flintridge
• Tickets: $65, sold through the observatory
• Parking: You'll need a U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass. A $5 day pass is sold at the Cosmic Cafe on weekends, or grab one at the Shell station at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway before you head up.

A heads-up on access: the observatory isn't ADA-compliant. You'll walk about 10 minutes from the parking lot to the 100-inch telescope, then climb an open-air staircase of 53 steps inside the building. Wear comfortable shoes.

If you're after live music in Los Angeles with a setting you won't find anywhere else, this is it. Browse more concerts or see everything happening around Los Angeles, and add this one to your list of things to do in Los Angeles before the season closes for the winter.