Sunday Afternoon at the Central Library

The Newport Beach Public Library hosts outstanding classical and instrumental music and performers throughout the year. The hour-long Sunday Musicales are held on Sundays at 3 p.m. in the Friends Meeting Room at the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach. Funding is graciously donated by the Newport Beach Friends of the Library. Free admission.

If you missed a Sunday Musicale, you may be able to view it on NBTV streaming video.

Duo Apollon

Sunday, January 22, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Aaron Haas and Anastasia Malliaras of Duo Apollon perform art song repertoire for voice and guitar, as well as transcriptions from piano. The repertoire originally written for guitar and voice is less well-known than that for piano and voice, and showcases song cycles which are rarely heard, while the transcriptions reinterpret classic art song with the unique sound of the guitar-voice duo. NBTV Video

Aristides Rivas and Minji Noh, cello and piano

Sunday, February 19, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Beethoven and Rachmaninoff are two of the most iconic composers of the romantic period. This program will feature two sonatas for cello and piano by these masters. They provide a window into their extreme genius, love, and darkness. 

Ryan Whyman

Sunday, March 19, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Pianist and composer Ryan Whyman performs a program of imaginative and emotionally compelling music written over this last year during his transition into fatherhood. Ryan’s classical foundation and his love of jazz, folk and film music culminate in a performance that transcends genre is sure to evoke imagery in the mind of the listener.

Mirror Visions Ensemble

Sunday, April 16, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Mirror Visions Ensemble’s Midnight Magic reflects upon the witching hour as musical favorites by Mozart, Debussy, and Price intermingle with Bonds, Sondheim, and more. Four stunning voices (soprano Mireille Asselin, mezzo Abi Levis, tenor Daniel McGrew, and baritone Mischa Bouvier) are alongside pianist Max Hammond. Performances of commissioned works feature Carlos Simon’s “Dreams” and Andrew Gerle’s arrangement of “That Old Black Magic.”

Duo MAT, piano duo

Sunday, May 21, 2023, 3 p.m., Central Library Friends Room

Inhyun Lee and Ena Kim of Duo MAT are a southern California-based piano duo ensemble. They want to make art, not only limited to music, together with the audience and share their musical emotions. The program consists of various composers, well-known pieces, from jazz to original classical styles. 

Sunday Musicales at the Central Library are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served, limited by room capacity of 200.  Funding is graciously donated by the Friends of the Library.

Please note:  If you are a musician or part of an ensemble interested in performing in our 2023-24 season, please send bio information and performance video links to Terry Sanchez at tsanchez@newportbeachca.gov, or call (949) 717-3895 for questions.