Most of the time, when you go to a concert (or movie, or play, etc.), you expect it to last at least an hour or two.
But sometimes, it’s nice not to have to commit to a full evening’s entertainment. Short, informal lunchtime concerts are a fun way to get out and hear a little bit of music. They're also often free!
I know about three classical lunchtime concert series in WV.
Pianist Fran Belin plays free half-hour concerts at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg at noon on the second Tuesday of most months. She focuses on a different composer each month, and she also tells stories about the composers in between playing pieces.
Her next “Tuesdays with Fran” concert features Erik Satie on April 14. Then, she’ll play Sergei Prokofiev in May and Federico Mompou in June. You can bring a bag lunch to the concerts.
Fran Belin was featured previously on West Virginia Morning — you can hear her describe her approach to music and these concerts in our interview.
In Huntington, Marshall University sponsors a series called “MUsic Alive,” at the First Presbyterian Church. They’ve featured visiting artists (recently Michiko Otaki and the Graffe String Quartet) and Marshall University faculty (including flutist Wendell Dobbs). The Nevelson Duo will perform on the next “MUsic Alive” concert, Friday April 24 at noon. I'm not sure about the length of these concerts.
The Kanawha Forum in Charleston presents weekly chamber music concerts over lunch at Kanawha Presbyterian Church for a few months in the spring and fall. They feature different performers, from solo pianists to string quartets to the flute section of the WV Symphony.
The concerts start at 12:05 pm and last 25 minutes. They’re also free, and you can purchase lunch from the church in advance. The Kanawha Forum has just completed their spring season, but they’ll be returning in the fall.
Do you know other places around WV serving up miniature concerts, over lunch or any other time? Let me know!