Concerti d'Eccellenza

Inspiration from Hungary | Hungarian Folk | Vilde Frang I

Vilde Frang

Martin Helmchen

Benjamin Eredics

Salamon Eredics

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Date

Thursday, 24.09

19:30 Clock

Venue

Chiesa del Collegio Papio, Ascona

Via delle Cappelle 1, 6612 Ascona

Price Categories

CHF 85 / 70 / 55 / 40

Recital for Chamber Orchestra and Piano

About the Concert

Critics hail Vilde Frang as an exceptional artist whose playing captivates with its “breathtaking intensity and an almost uncanny tonal nuance.” For her opening program as Artist in Residence, the violinist drew inspiration from Hungarian music.

In his search for his own musical language, Béla Bartók immersed himself in the folk music of his homeland even as a student. Bartók traveled to visit farmers in Transylvania, the Balkans, and as far as Turkey. The 25-year-old field researcher carried with him a phonograph capable of recording and playing back music on site using rotating cylinders. Today, Bartók’s recordings are valuable documents of a bygone era, which he himself meticulously analyzed and used in his own compositions. Bartók takes a unique approach by neither imitating nor quoting folk music, but rather incorporating it abstractly into his characteristic compositional style.

His First Violin Sonata marks a high point of modernism in music, as it reflects not only radical innovations in musical expression but also the composer’s engagement with folk music. In contrast, Johannes Brahms’s Hungarian Dances demonstrate how folk music was stylized into sophisticated light music from a Romantic perspective.

Discover Music

Program

6:45 p.m., Biblioteca Papio: Introduction – Concert introduction by Davide Fersini (musician and music editor at RSI) – in Italian (in German upon request)

Vilde Frang, violin
Artist in Residence 2026
Benjamin & Salamon Eredics, Accordion, Flute, Tambura (Mandolin)
Martin Helmchen, Piano

Folk songs
“Rastanak” (“Farewell”) from the Balkans
“Elment a madárka” (“The Little Bird Has Flown Away”) from Transylvania

Béla Bartók (1881–1945)
Violin Sonata No. 1, Sz. 75

Interval

Béla Bartók
6 Dances in Bulgarian Rhythms from *Mikrokosmos*, Sz. 107

improvisation
About themes and dances from the Balkans

Folk dances
South Slavic dances from Hungary

Béla Bartók
“Gyergyóból,” 3 Hungarian Folk Songs from Csík, Sz. 35a
“Ne hagyj itt” (“Don’t Leave Me”) from “Works for Children’s and Women’s Chorus,” Sz. 103

Folk Dances
Dances from Kalotaszeg in Transylvania
“Wallachian Dance” from Hungary

improvisation
About Arabic themes and dances

Béla Bartók
“Arabic Dance” from “44 Duos for Two Violins,” Sz. 98

Folk dance
“Drago Kolo” (“Dragon Dance”) from Hungary, arr. Söndörgő

Béla Bartók
“Bucsumí tánc” (“Dance from Butschum”), “Román polka” (“Romanian Polka”), and “Aprózó” (“Fast Dance”) from “Romanian Folk Dances,” Sz. 68

Folk Songs

“Trio Ornamentum,” arr. Benjamin and Salamon Eredics
“From Hungary,” arr. Söndörgő

Duration: 100′ (including interval)

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.

Martin Helmchen

Piano

Martin Helmchen, a multi-award-winning pianist, performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician.

Benjamin Eredics

Trumpet, Contratambura

Benjamin and Salamon Eredics, along with Martin Helmchen, combine their focus on chamber music and their work as lecturers with their innovative improvisation. The Eredics brothers are also dedicated to Hungarian folk music traditions.

Salamon Eredics

Accordion, Flute, Tambura (Mandolin)

Benjamin and Salamon Eredics, along with Martin Helmchen, combine their focus on chamber music and their work as lecturers with their innovative improvisation. The Eredics brothers are also dedicated to Hungarian folk music traditions. Martin Helmchen, a multi-award-winning pianist, performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician.

About the venue: Chiesa del Collegio Papio, Ascona

The Chiesa Santa Maria della Misericordia at the Roman Catholic secondary school “Collegio Papio” is a Renaissance-era building, renowned for its impressive altarpieces and wall paintings by Giovanni Serodine (17th century) and Marco D’Oggioni (16th century). Because of its size and excellent acoustics, the church is regularly used for concerts, including major concerts organized by classicAscona. The College’s other premises host master classes and other side events.

The College’s other premises are used for master classes and other side events.

Arrival by public transportation: Tram/bus stop nearby: Ascona, Centro
Arrival by car: Public parking available nearby: Car park Piazza Caglioni Ascona Centro: Link