Sundays, July 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2026

4 PM

We are pleased to announce the dates for the 27th Athenaeum Summer Festival, a series of four concerts that will feature virtuoso pianist Gustavo Romero. Continuing a beloved tradition, this summer Gustavo Romero will celebrate and focus on the piano music of Franz Liszt. For 26 years, the Athenaeum has presented unforgettable festivals featuring Gustavo Romero performing the complete piano repertoire of a specific composer. Whether you have been with us all 26 years or have yet to experience the wonder of this artist—who plays from memory—you will not want to miss our upcoming 27th Summer Festival.

Romero, a native San Diegan, with a heritage in Guadalajara, first performed at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library as a young boy, and it was with him that the Athenaeum planned its first Summer Festival in 1999, the organization's 100th anniversary. Each year, Romero chooses composers to study in depth, sharing the full range of their artistry.

Dinners will be offered at the Athenaeum after the first and last concerts (July 5 and 26), providing a unique opportunity for concertgoers to socialize, meet Mr. Romero, and share a delicious meal, catered by Girard Gourmet. All concerts begin at 4 PM at the Athenaeum. Priority seating will be given to Donor-level members and above, and to dinner guests. 

About Gustavo Romero: Concert pianist Gustavo Romero is internationally renowned for his exceptional technical brilliance and interpretive depth and has gained acclaim for his commitment to in-depth exploration of a wide variety of composers.

Romero discovered his love and gift for the piano at age 5 and gave his first public performances at the age 10, when he also won his first piano competition. By age 13 he was performing with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. Rudolf Serkin recognized his exceptional talent, and at age 14 Romero began attending The Juilliard School.

Romero has won many prizes, including first prize in the prestigious Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland, the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and Musical America’s Young Artist Award. He has performed with the world’s leading orchestras—including the New York, Los Angeles, New Japan, Shanghai, Cape Town, and Liège Philharmonics; Atlanta, Houston, Pittsburgh, Honolulu, and New World Symphonies; and Boston Pops, English Chamber, Radio France, Russian Symphony, and Thailand Philharmonic  Orchestras. With the Philharmonia Hungarica Orchestra he performed in  a concert internationally televised from the United Nations.

Program:

CONCERT 1: JULY 5

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Consolations (Pensées poétiques) S.172/R12 (2nd version, 1850)
No. 1: Andante con moto
No. 2: Un poco più mosso
No. 3: Lento placido

Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S.173 (1834–53)
Pensée de morts (1847 [S.172a, No. 8]) (1853 [S.173, No. 4])
Hymne in E-flat Major (1847, No. 10)
Andante lagrimoso (1853, No. 9)
Invocation (1847 and 1853, No. 1)

Intermission 

Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)
3 Dances from El sombrero de tres picos (1916)
Danza de los vecinos (Dance of the Neighbors)
Danza de la molinera (Dance of the Miller's Wife)
Danza del molinero (Dance of the Miller)

Franz Liszt
Douze Études d'exécution transcendante, S.139 (1852)
No. 9: Ricordanza

Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S.173 (1853)
No. 11: Funérailles

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, S.244/11 (1853)

CONCERT 2: JULY 12

Déodat de Séverac (1872–1921)
Cerdaña (Cinc études pittoresques) (1911)
En tartane: l'arrivée en Cerdagne
Les fêtes: souvenir de Puigcerda
Ménétriers et glaneuses: souvenir d'un pèlegrinage à Font-Romeu
Les muletiers devant le Christ de Llivia
Le retour des muletiers

Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)
Fantasia Baetica (1919)

Intermission

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Sonata in B Minor, S.178 (1852–1853)
Lento assai—Allegro energico—Andante sostenuto—
Allegro enérgico—Stretta quasi presto—Allegro moderato

CONCERT 3: JULY 19

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Années de pèlerinage: deuxième année, Italie, S.161/R10b (1858)
No. 4: Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
No. 5: Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
No. 6: Sonetto 123 del Petrarca

Harmonies poétiques et religieuses, S.173/R14 No. 10 (1853)
No. 10: Cantique d’amour

Années de pèlerinage: deuxième année, Italie, S.161/R10b (1858)
No. 2: Il penseroso (The Thinker)
No. 1: Sposalizio (Marriage of the Virgin)

Années de pèlerinage: deuxième année, Italie, supplément:
Venezia e Napoli, S.162/R10 (1859)
No. 3: Tarantella

Intermission

Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)
El Amor Brujo (L’Amour sorcier) (1921)
Pantomima (Pantomime)
Danza del fuego fatuo (Chanson du feu follet) 
Danza del terror (Danse de la frayeur, or Danse de la terreur)
El círculo magico (La cercle magique) 
Danza del ritual del fuego fatuo (Danse du feu)

Franz Liszt
Années de pèlerinage: troisième année, Italie (S.163) (1877/1883)
No.4: Les jeux d’eaux à la Villa D’Este 
No. 7: Sursum corda 

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 15 in A Minor, “Rákóczy March” (S.244/15) (1847)

CONCERT 4: JULY 26

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Consolations, (Pensées poétiques), S.172/R12 (2nd version, 1850)
No. 4: Quasi adagio
No. 5: Andantino

Années de pèlerinage: première année, Suisse, S.159 (1848–55)
No. 1: À la Chapelle de Guillaume Tell 
No. 2: Au lac de Wallenstadt 
No. 4: Au bord d’une source 
No. 9: Cloches de Geneve
No. 6: Vallee d’Obermann

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 13 in A Major, S.244/13 (1847)

Intermission

Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)
Danza espagnole No. 1 from La vida breve (1926)

Franz Liszt
Wiegenlied, S.198 (1881)
En rêve, S.207 (1885)
Nuages gris, S.199 (1881)
La lugubre gondola, S.200/1 (1882–1883)
Unstern! Sinistre, disastro, S.208 (1881)
Die Zelle in Nonnenwerth, S.534/3 (1881) 

Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.515 (1856–1861)

Dinner Menu by Girard Gourmet:

Sunday, July 5

Duck quesadillas, Belgian endive with shrimp and avocado, Greek salad skewers 
Ceasar salad 
Chicken piccata with asparagus and rice pilaf 
Lemon mousse cake with berries 

Sunday, July 26

Boursin rolled grapes, pissaladière, mini crab cakes 
Mango gazpacho 
Salade niçoise with salmon 
Rhubarb pie 

*Pescatarian and vegetarian options are available upon request*  

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Your name will be on an attendee list at the front door. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. Priority seating will be given to Donor level members and above. 

Ticket Confirmation Notice: 

Your reservation is not complete until you receive an email confirmation. If you do not receive a confirmation email, your tickets have not been reserved. Please check your inbox and spam/junk folder or contact us at info@ljathenaeum.org or (858) 454-5872 to ensure your booking is finalized. 

Thank you!