Virtuoso pianist Gustavo Romero returns to the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library for the 27th Athenaeum Summer Festival, a beloved San Diego tradition celebrating the depth and brilliance of the piano repertoire. This year’s series, Romantic Fire and the Spanish Soul, explores the music of Franz Liszt alongside works by Spanish masters Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, and Manuel de Falla, illuminating the connections between Romanticism and Spanish musical traditions. A native San Diegan who first performed at the Athenaeum as a child, Romero has captivated audiences for more than two decades with these annual performances, bringing extraordinary technical mastery, historical insight, and heartfelt artistry to every program. Performed entirely from memory, this four-concert series offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the region’s most treasured musical traditions.

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

JOAN & IRWIN JACOBS
MUSIC ROOM
Athenaeum Music & Arts Library
1008 Wall Street
La Jolla, CA 92037