Key West Impromptu Classical Concerts Announces 2024 Season

Key West Impromptu Classical Concerts began 52 years ago when music lover Richard Lischer was the owner of a popular restaurant in the heart of Key West, The Buttery.  In January of 1972 Richard had a professional musician friend, a notable concert pianist, visiting with him at his Casa Gato home.  His guest, the renowned Alicia de Larrocha, in return for Richard’s hospitality, offered to give a concert as a “thank you to Key West”. The result:  a special impromptu dinner and concert evening at The Buttery on January 6, 1972, with some fifty dinner buying attendees with no foreknowledge this was to be the birth of the Impromptu Concert series.  Among the attendees was Raymond Weiss, owner of a concert-artist management agency in New York City, who had a home in Key West.  An informal partnership was born, offering concerts not only when Richard’s musical friends were visiting, but also whenever a Weiss client chanced to be playing in South Florida and could be coaxed to spend a few days in Key West.

These Impromptu concerts continued for over twenty years at multiple venues in Key West until the growth and popularity required finding a larger, permanent home.  In 1994, Impromptu Concerts moved to its present location, the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal church on Duval Street.

The six-series concerts are no longer “Impromptu”, requiring a two-year booking lead time for the acclaimed performers presented to both local and visiting concertgoers.  The 2024 season will again present a roster of well-known classical chamber music groups and individual performers on the following dates:

  • Jan 7 – Amernet String Quartet – Recognized as one of today’s exceptional string quartets.
  • Jan 21 – Jeremy Denk – One of America’s foremost pianists.
  • Feb 4 – Ensemble Schumann – Heralded for creating “the most blissful sound this side of Nirvana”.
  • Feb 18 – Lomazov-Rackers Piano Duo – Praised for their “demon precision and complete dedication”.
  • Mar 3 – Keila Wakao – 17-year-old violinist, chosen as Impromptu’s 2024 “Rising Star”.
  • Mar 17 – Merz Trio – Lauded for their “stunning virtuosity…fresh and surprising interpretations”.

All concerts begin at 4 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal church at 401 Duval Street.  Admission is $20 at the door and students are admitted free.  Full season subscriptions start at $100 and can be purchased online at www.keywestimpromptu.org.

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