6 p.m. » Piano Concert “A French Emotional Journey” starring Aleck Karis 7 p.m. » Closing Reception After the concert, mingle with festival guests and participants in a welcoming and elegant setting. Join the Alliance Française of San Diego (AFSD) and the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library from October 2 to 4, 2025, for the inaugural San Diego French Literature and Arts Festival—a vibrant three-day celebration of Francophone literature, film, and the arts. Organized by the Alliance Française San Diego in collaboration with esteemed partners including Gallimard, Villa Albertine, and the Athenaeum, this cultural event promises inspiration and discovery. Open to all, the festival brings together Francophone authors, educators, artists, and students for a rich, immersive experience across San Diego. We are proud to welcome acclaimed author Éric Fottorino as our Literary Guest of Honor, and Ann Craig as our Honorary Patron alongside a distinguished lineup of local and international voices. On October 4, Aleck Karis will perform “A French Emotional Journey,” a piano concert in the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Music Room at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, which will be followed by a reception. Aleck Karis has performed recitals, chamber music, and concertos across the Americas, Europe, Japan, and China. As the pianist of the new music ensemble Speculum Musicae he has participated in over a hundred premieres and performed at major American and European festivals. His appearances with orchestra have ranged from concertos by Beethoven and Chopin to those of Stravinsky and Carter. His ten solo discs cover repertoire from Mozart to the present, most recently Debussy’s Études and Children’s Corner suite on Bridge, and Beethoven’s sonatas Opus 2, no. 1 and Opus 106 (Hammerklavier), on Roméo. He is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the UC San Diego music department. His newest recording is available on Romeo Records, featuring Beethoven’s sonatas Opus 2, no. 1 and Opus 106. Tickets include the concert and the reception. Athenaeum Music & Arts Library on Facebook / Instagram
