Key West The Newspaper

Now in its 44th season, Key West’s much-lauded Impromptu Classical Concerts steadfastly retains its original mission: “To promote the appreciation and enjoyment of music, particularly classical music, for all residents of and visitors to Monroe County and the city of Key West by providing opportunities to experience concerts of outstanding quality performed by the very best ensembles and artists at the most affordable prices possible.”

To fulfill that mission in a changing world, this season’s six-concerts series offers inspired chamber music programs performed by talented young musicians. The combining of classical musical repertoire and young talent reflects the organization’s refreshing take on the philosophy that “everything old is new again”. This year, all concerts will be performed at the venerable Caribbean Gothic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401Duval Street. All concerts are Sundays at 4:00 p.m.

Returning to Key West is pianist Thomas Pandolfi who leads off the season on Sunday, January 10th. Pandolfi is an exciting virtuoso whose appearances often feature not only the beloved masterpiece concerti by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Liszt, but also the equally brilliant ones by Paderewski, Rubinstein and Moszkowski. Additionally, in the “Pops” genre, Thomas is considered a leading interpreter of the works of George Gershwin. Regarding his upcoming visit to Key West, Pandolfi notes enthusiastically, “I always look forward to returning.”

And now for something a little bit different. Appearing on January 24, the internationally acclaimed vocal ensemble Western Wind Sextet will share the special beauty and variety of a cappella music. The ensemble will call upon its diverse background – from Renaissance motets to Fifties rock ’n’ roll, from medieval carols to Duke Ellington, from complex works by avant-garde composers to the simplest folk melodies. Western Wind is “excited to sing for the first time in the Florida Keys!”

The month of January wraps up with a performance by violin player William Hagen. Reaffirming the “everything old is new again” theme, the young musician plays on an Andrea Guarneri (Cremona) violin, c. 1675. Hagen, a native Utahn, began violin lessons at the age of four, later studying with virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho at The Juilliard School. In a program sure to please traditionalists, Hagen opens with a “sweet little Mozart sonata” and continues with selections from Prokofiev and Ravel, as well as others.

The winter heats up when the Eroica Trio breezes into town on February 14. Whether playing the great standards of the piano trio repertoire or daring contemporary works, the three young women who make up this celebrated string ensemble electrify the concert stage with their passionate performances. The New York Times writes, “They play chamber music for the concert hall. There is an edge of the seat intensity to every note they produce”. The Trio won the prestigious Naumburg Award.

Britain’s Badke String Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at London’s Royal Holloway University, are center stage on February 28. Formed in 2002, the Quartet is widely recognized as one of Britain’s finest string quartets, and they play on a fine set of instruments. Continuing the new/old coupling, Charlotte Scott performs on the 1685 ‘Gagliano’ Stradivarius; Emma Parker, a Peter Guarnerius violin from 1672; Jon Thorne plays a Giovanni Grancino viola from 1692; and Nathaniel Boyd is performing on a Grancino cello from 1695.

The final concert of the season presents the Axiom Brass Quintet on March 13. The Chicago-based quintet’s repertoire includes traditional brass quintets, string quartet transcriptions, early music, and unique arrangements of American and Latin jazz. The ensemble’s commitment to new music has led to several world premieres and ongoing commissioning projects. Axiom Brass is an Ensemble-in-Residence at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, as well as Rush Hour Concerts’ “Back of the Yards” program in Chicago

Concert tickets are $20 at the door one hour before the performance or online: Keystix.com or classicalconcertskw.com. Any questions please call 305.745.2283, Season subscription pass (6 concerts) – $100. Subscription passes can be used for all concerts or for multiple guests at one or more concerts. All students free.

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