Cellist Alisa Weilerstein withdraws from Broad Stage concert

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Citing a muscle strain in her shoulder, cellist Alisa Weilerstein has canceled her Sunday appearance on the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. She was scheduled to perform Barber’s Cello Concerto with the USC Thornton Symphony, conducted by Mei Ann Chen.

Weilerstein will be replaced by cellist Lynn Harrell, who will make his Broad Stage debut performing Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor with the orchestra.

Weilerstein recently toured with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra in Venezuela. She also performed at a White House concert in November.

‘Naturally we are all very disappointed that an artist of her stature has had a shoulder strain, but we wish her a speedy recovery and hope to reengage her for her Broad Stage debut in the future,’ said Broad Stage director Dale Franzen in a statement.

Harrell, a resident of Santa Monica, has performed extensively throughout the world, including several appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was actively involved with the L.A. Philharmonic Institute for a number of years, playing a few key leadership roles from 1988 to 1992.

The Sunday concert will start at 4 p.m. KUSC-91.5 FM will record the performance for future broadcast.

-- David Ng