Impromptu Classical Concerts of Key West Celebrating 50 Years

Fifty years ago the first Impromptu concert was performed by a musician-visitor to represent a “thank you Key West” in return for the kindness and joy of her host’s hospitality.

On the evening of January 6, 1972, the yet relatively unknown Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha performed at The Buttery, a popular eatery whose owner was her host, Richard Lischer. With an audience of about 50, classical-music appreciative attendees gathered to enjoy a dinner and listen to an impromptu performance. 

The occasion was serendipitously the beginning of 50 years of consecutive concerts provided by an artist who soon after became recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.  Richard Lischer continued to host the “Impromptu” performances for nearly twenty years, while the growing audiences required several moves to larger venues, until finally in 1994 they settled in at the present location at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Duval.
 
It has been 50 years since that auspicious first impromptu concert was performed to represent “a thank you Key West”. Now 50 years later, the Impromptu Classical Concerts continues to be thankful for the generosity and support from the community that enables the providing of classical music performed by world-wide award winning musicians to Key West’s grateful audiences.

Remaining Concerts: Jan 23- Yekwon Sunwoo (pianist), Feb 13- Chooi Brothers (violinists), Feb 27- Michael Brown and Nicholas Canellakis (pianist and cellist), Mar 14- Zlatomir Fung (cellist), and Mar 27- Canadian Brass.
Concerts at 4:00, St. Paul’s Church, $20, students welcomed free

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