Concerts of excellence

Ispirazione Ungheria – Hungarian Folk | Vilde Frang I

Vilde Frang

Martin Helmchen

Benjamin Eredics

Salamon Eredics

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Date

Thursday, 24.09

Hours 19:30

Location

Chiesa del Collegio Papio, Ascona

Via delle Cappelle 1, 6612 Ascona

Price categories

CHF 85 / 70 / 55 / 40

Recital for Chamber Orchestra and Piano

Concert information

Critics celebrate Vilde Frang as an exceptional artist whose sound is marked by “breathtaking intensity and almost uncanny timbral differentiation.” For her opening program as Artist in Residence, the violinist drew inspiration from Hungarian music. Béla Bartók, in search of a personal language, devoted himself with great rigor to his homeland’s folk music after his studies. He traveled among the peasants of Transylvania, in the Balkans, and as far as Turkey.s celebrate Vilde Frang as an exceptional artist whose sound is striking in its “breathtaking

In his luggage, he had a phonograph that, with rotating cylinders, could record and play music on the spot. Today, those recordings are precious documents of a bygone era, which Bartók scrupulously analyzed and used as material for his own writing. Bartók followed a particular path. He did not imitate or quote folklore, but integrated it into his compositional style in an abstract form.

His 1st Violin Sonata marks a high point of modernism in music because, in addition to radical innovations in musical expression, it also reflects the composer’s confrontation with popular music. In contrast, Johannes Brahms’s Hungarian Dances testify to how popular music, viewed through the lens of Romantic aesthetics, could be transformed into high-quality entertainment.

Program

6:45 pm, Papio Library: Concert introduction, Davide Fersini (musician & music editor RSI) – in Italian (German on 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 flew away”) from Transylvania

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

Break

Béla Bartók
6 Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm from “Mikrokosmos,” Sz. 107

Improvisation
On Balkan themes and dances.

Folk dances
South Slavic dances from Hungary

Béla Bartók
“Gyergyóból” (“From Gyergyó”), 3 Hungarian folk songs from the 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 the Transylvanian Kalotaszeg
“Wallachian dance” from Hungary

Improvisation
On Arab themes and dances.

Béla Bartók
“Arab Dance” from “44 duets for two violins,” Sz. 98

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

Béla Bartók
“Bucsumí tánc” (“Bucsum Dance”), “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 break)

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.

Venue information: 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.