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FINDING ANOTHER way to offer live music and comply with Covid precautions, the Monterey Symphony brought Monterey Symphony cellist Isaac Pastor-Chermak to Winfield Gallery last week and made a recording of him playing Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite No. 3 for Solo Cello and two other pieces.

In its most recent effort to bring musicians and audiences together during the pandemic, the symphony will stream the recital on Thanksgiving Day.

"We wanted to release something special on Thanksgiving," the symphony's executive director Nicola Reilly told The Pine Cone. "We will do the same on Christmas Eve with another performance."

Because live music with an audience is prohibited for now because of the virus, only a few people watched Pastor-Chermak display his talents.

"We had limited staff at the event and everyone was wearing masks," Reilly explained. "Our amazing crew handled the recording."

Filled with colorful and eclectic art that changes with the seasons, Winfield Gallery offered a one-of-a-kind backdrop for the show. As Pastor-Chermak played, a sleek, life-sized bronze tiger sculpture by Gwynn Murrul, just steps away, seemingly stalked him. But the big cat may have actually been eyeing a nearby pile of pillow-sized M&Ms, each made by sculptor Karen Shapiro.

The gallery on Dolores between Ocean and Seventh, which is owned by Chris Winfield, has great acoustics, and that explains why the space was used as a dinner theater for the Carmel Bach Festival many decades ago. Since he moved in 20 years ago, Winfield has only hosted two other musical performances, including one by keyboardist Morgan Fisher, who was once in Mott the Hoople.

According to Reilly, Pastor-Chermak had a great time playing in the gallery. She also thanked Winfield for making it possible.

"Isaac loved it and was blown away by the beauty of the space," Reilly added. "Chris was so generous."

Besides playing cello for the symphony, Pastor-Chermak is part of the Black Cedar Trio, a rare flute-cello-guitar combo. He's also the principal cellist of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, and finds time to perform with an array of other ensembles.

The Thanksgiving Day recital is the latest offering in the symphony's Balcony Sessions series, which has turned a balcony — which hovers over Hampton Court at Seventh and San Carlos — into a stage. During the colder months, the symphony plans to record and stream performances in December from My Museum and in January from Sunset Center.

For more details, visit montereysymphony.org.