Michael Lawson will exchange licks with John Lutterman when the two cellists perform back-to-back Sacramento Baroque Soloists concerts Jan. 8 and 9. But dueling cellos it ain’t. “It’s more of a harmonious balance between cellos than cellos dueling,” explains the 43-year-old Lawson. “Two cellos playing melodies together is just so beautiful—really rich and beautiful.” A Sacramento native and lifelong cellist—he was in fourth grade when he picked up the instrument—Lawson is now paying it forward by teaching cello himself, with some 30-odd students at the Pease Conservatory in midtown. His own work reaches into improvisational jazz and Celtic, but at the January concerts, it’ll be all about baroque and early classical, including some rarely heard repertoire. A violone and harpsichord will round out the quartet. The Voice of the Cello performances take place Saturday, Jan. 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 9 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1430 J St. in Sacramento. For tickets and more information, visit sacramentobaroque.org or call (916) 705-3806.
