Concerts of excellence
Festival Warm-Up Concert: Tra Mondi – Between Worlds | Cornèr Bank Preview
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano
Emmanuel Tjeknavorian
Alexandra Dovgan

Date
Wednesday, 02.09
Hours 20:00
Location
Chiesa San Francesco, Locarno
Piazza San Francesco 19, 6600 Locarno
Price categories
CHF 140 / 115 / 90 / 65 / 40
Symphony and Choral Concerts
Concert information
Grigori Sokolov describes the talent of pianist Alexandra Dovgan, born in 2007, as extraordinary: not just a prodigy, but a mature artist capable of impressive expressive depth. This year, Alexandra Dovgan makes her debut at Carnegie Hall and the Philharmonie in Berlin.
In 1808, Beethoven premiered his Piano Concerto No. 4, conducting and performing the solo part simultaneously. The Viennese public’s reactions ranged from enthusiasm to exhaustion, as the work was part of a concert marathon lasting more than four hours. Beethoven also caused a stir when, conducting from the piano, he dropped the candelabra. His student, Carl Czerny, likened the maestro’s appearance to that of Robinson Crusoe, with his “very black hair standing up in disarray around his head.”
Less wild, but with a thick beard and dark overcoat, 51-year-old Antonín Dvořák embarked on the journey to America with his wife and two of his children. The crossing from Bremen to New Jersey took nine days. A patron had entrusted him, as director of the New York Conservatory, with the task of developing an autonomous American national music. The first performance of Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” on Dec. 17, 1893, became the musical event of the century in New York. At Carnegie Hall, the “Ninth” was greeted by overwhelming enthusiasm, beginning a success story that continues to this day
Program
Alexandra Dovgan, Piano
Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano
Emanuel Tjeknavorian, Conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major op. 58
Break
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904)
Symphony No. 9 in E minor op. 95 “From the New World”
Duration: 110′ (break included)
The Artists

Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano
The Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, based at the Auditorium di Milano Fondazione Cariplo, is one of Italy’s leading orchestras. It combines the core symphonic repertoire with contemporary projects and a strong commitment to nurturing young talent. Since September 2024, Emmanuel Tjeknavorian has been the symphony orchestra’s music director.

Emmanuel Tjeknavorian
Conductor
Emmanuel Tjeknavorian has been Music Director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano since September 2024. He was previously well known as a violinist, having performed in renowned international concert halls. As a conductor, he has led, among others, the Filarmonica della Scala, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the SWR Symphony Orchestra.

Alexandra Dovgan
Piano
Born in Moscow in 2007, Alexandra Dovgan is among the most fascinating pianists of her generation. At age five, she was accepted into the Central Music School in Moscow, where she studied with Mira Marchenko. As a prize-winner at several international competitions, she has debuted in Berlin, Vienna, Zurich, Paris, and Buenos Aires, as well as at Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw.
Venue information: Chiesa San Francesco, Locarno
Chiesa San Francesco in Locarno, dating back to the 13th century, is more than a historical monument: it is a living sounding board where history, art, and music converge. It is one of classicAscona’s most fascinating venues and offers a worthy setting for orchestral and choral concerts. The special features of this monument of sacred art are the 18th-century frescoes by the Locarnese Orelli family of painters and the wooden choir, carved in 1522.
After significant restoration, the church now glows as a cultural center, welcoming all with its renewed brilliance. Its last complete interior restoration, finished in 2012, ensures every visitor can experience its historical beauty.

Festival Warm-Up Concert: Tra Mondi – Between Worlds | Cornèr Bank Preview
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