Classical Underground

Mikael Oganesyan plays piano during the Classical Underground concert in August.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Attendees come in casual clothes and sit on a combination of couches and beach chairs.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Steele takes in the concert with a drink. Performances are recorded and the recordings are made available to the musicians, many of whom are trying different approaches to material.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Maksim Velichkin’s cello awaits him. Velichkin and Steele together launched the chamber music series.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Alisa Maiarov, 7, a young piano player, attended with her father, Konstantin Maiarov, 37.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Clarinetist Sergei Vassiliev performs.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Stele painted “Blue Rose” (84” x 120”, oil) for Mick Fleetwood.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Steele’s “Quiet Steps of Approaching Thunder” serves as Classical Underground’s logo.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)