Cellist Paul Tseng and pianist Ching-Ming Cheng return to Intimate Classics at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, for an afternoon of beautiful music, captivating stories, and a journey from the Classical era into the heart of Romanticism. Bridge to the Romantic Era explores the remarkable transformation of music through works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Saint-Saëns. The program opens with Beethoven's delightful variations on a theme from Handel's "Judas Maccabaeus," followed by his dramatic Sonata No. 2 in G minor, an early masterpiece that already hints at the emotional intensity of the Romantic era. Mendelssohn's exquisite "Romance Without Words," written for the young French cellist Lise Cristiani, offers a moment of tenderness and lyrical beauty. The afternoon culminates in Saint-Saëns' magnificent Sonata No. 1 in C minor, a work of sweeping emotion, virtuosity, and dramatic power. Along the way, Tseng will share personal stories and insights into the composers and their music, inviting audiences to discover the human stories behind these extraordinary works. Join us for an intimate afternoon of music that speaks directly to the heart. Sunday, November 8, 2026 @ 3 p.m. Center Theater California Center for the Arts, Escondido 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA Tickets: https://bit.ly/PTCMC26 This concert is generously underwritten by Jean Will Presents. Intimate Classics at the California Center for the Arts is available as a subscription discount when you buy 3 or more shows in the series. To subscribe, go to: https://bit.ly/ic2627sub California Center for the Arts, Escondido on Facebook / Instagram
