Some of the biggest names in classical music will travel to Colorado for the Aspen Music Festival’s annual winter recital series—a small yet always potent counterpart to its massive summer lineup.
The five-concert program gives visitors something to do in the evenings when they are not on the slopes or engaged in other winter activities and helps the festival have a more year-round public presence.
The series opens Tuesday with cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, performing works by such composers as Anton Webern and Ludwig van Beethoven. The widely recognized husband-and- wife duo perform regularly in Aspen and are known for their intensity and passion.
The rest of the schedule will be as follows:
Piotr Anderszewski, pianist, Feb. 20. Before back-to-back recitals in Denver and Boulder, the Polish-born pianist will make a stop in Aspen. He catapulted to international stardom in 2002, when he won the prestigious Gilmore Award.
Emanuel Ax, pianist, Feb. 26. Ax might be best known as a frequent recital partner for cellist Yo-Yo Ma, but his long and distinguished career has taken him in many other directions as well, including performances with many of the world’s great orchestras and an array of other artists.
Stephen Hough, pianist, March 6. Few artists have won more accolades in recent years than this highly intelligent, always adventuresome pianist, who received a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” in 2001. He will perform a broad array of works by Camille Saint-Säens, Emmanuel Chabrier and others.
Leila Josefowicz, violinist, and John Novacek, pianist, March 10. Josefowicz has become a strong advocate for new music, collaborating regularly with composers such as John Adams. Her program will include a work by 48-year-old Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür.
All the concerts take place at 7:30 p.m. in Harris Concert Hall, a 500-seat, below-ground facility on the festival’s grounds at 960 N. Third St. Series subscriptions are available. Single tickets are $55-$65. Call 970-925-9042 or visit .
