Concerti d'Eccellenza

Mondi da sogno – Dream Worlds | Vilde Frang II

Vilde Frang

Lawrence Power

Ilya Gringolts

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Date

Tuesday, 29.09

19:30 Clock

Venue

Chiesa di S. Maria di Ponte, Brissago

6614 Brissago

Price Categories

CHF 60 / 40 / 20

Chamber Music and Vocal Concerts

About the Concert

The Norwegian Nobel Prize laureate in Literature, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, wrote about his homeland: “Norway is a country where nature is so vast that humans feel like mere guests in a dream.” Oslo-born violinist Vilde Frang, Artist in Residence for the 2026 festival, invites audiences on a journey into musical dream worlds with her program. Eugène Ysaÿe’s monumental Sonata for Two Violins creates the illusion of an orchestral dreamscape—with just two instruments! Dense motivic interweavings generate a swirling stream of luminous timbres. The Capricci by Norwegian composer Bjarne Brustad combine elements of Norwegian folk music with stylistically defining forms of neoclassical music. Brustad translates the brittle, overtone-rich sound of the Hardanger fiddle into lively, virtuosic capriccios, the likes of which were rarely heard in the 20th century.

Béla Bartók was deeply impressed by Zoltán Kodály ’s Serenade for Two Violins and Viola and wrote: “This composition is a genuinely modern product of Hungarian culture. It is extraordinarily rich in melodies, whose exotic characteristics are accentuated by the strong ’ rubato ’; they are intended for traditional folk music.

Program

Vilde Frang, Violin
Artist in Residence 2026
Ilya Gringolts, Violin
Lawrence Power, Viola

Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931)
Sonata for Two Violins in A minor, Op. posth.

[Solo piece for viola, TBC]

Intermission

Bjarne Brustad (1895–1978)
Capricci for Violin and Viola

Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967)
Serenade for 2 Violins and Viola, Op. 12

Duration: XX’ (including intermission)

The Artists

Vilde Frang

Violin

Is Vilde Frang a star? Judging by her successes, yes, yet on stage she comes across as modest. She devotes herself entirely to the music – technically flawless, deeply felt and full of life. Vilde Frang consistently plays what she finds artistically compelling – not what the audience or record company expects. She is regarded as one of the most courageous and expressive artists of her generation.

Lawrence Power

Viola

Lawrence Power is regarded as one of the leading violists and, as a co-founder of the Viola Commissioning Circle, is committed to promoting new works – viola concertos have been composed by MacMillan, Turnage, Adès and Lindberg. He performs with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony and the Royal Concertgebouw, teaches at the Zurich University of the Arts and was an Associate Artist at Wigmore Hall.

Ilya Gringolts

Violin

Ilya Gringolts studied with Itzhak Perlman and won the Premio Paganini in 1998. He devotes himself to orchestral repertoire as well as contemporary and rare works; he is also passionate about historical performance practice. Gringolts captivates audiences with his highly virtuosic playing and his sophisticated interpretations. He teaches at the ZHdK and plays a Stradivarius from 1718.

About the venue: Chiesa di S. Maria di Ponte, Brissago

Brissago’s idyllic church, located directly on the lake’s shore, was built between 1526 and 1585, designed by architect Giovanni Beretta and later by his son Pietro. It is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in the region and features an octagonal dome with surrounding loggias, as well as a clear reference to the Lombard Bramante tradition. With its harmonious Latin-cross shape, dominant bell tower, and elegant interplay of windows and granite pillars, it offers a unique cultural and acoustic environment where music and architecture blend impressively.