Concerts of excellence
Musica dal Cielo – Music from Heaven | Vilde Frang III
Vilde Frang
Anna Prohaska
Nils Mönkemeyer
Olli Mustonen
Domenico Melchiorre
Ilya Gringolts

Date
Thursday, 01.10
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
Vilde Frang, an artist-in-residence, is distinguished in her music-making by an almost ethereal, fragile sensuality. The otherworldly in music combines in a special way with the reality of the finite. For his extravagant program of celestial music, Vilde Frang has invited a selection of the most interesting artistic personalities to Ascona.
Vilde Frang, Artist in Residence of classicAscona 2026, is distinguished by a fragile, almost ethereal way of making music with rare sensitivity. In her, what seems beyond the world is uniquely intertwined with an awareness of the limit. For her program of “music from the sky” she has invited some of the most interesting personalities of our time to Ascona.
The program’s arc ranges from archaic rhythms to profound reflections on life and transience. It begins with Gérard Grisey’s “Stèle.” Two drums create an unforgettable sound experience, as if time stood still. In “Reminiscence,” Toshio Hosokawa builds an atmosphere on the marimba that, according to a Zen-inspired principle, arises between silence and sound. Hosokawa weaves subtle, oriental timbral threads that continue to vibrate in stillness.
In “…oder soll es Tod bedeuten,” Mendelssohn’s Lieder on texts by Heinrich Heine blend with instrumental interludes by Aribert Reimann in a new, delicate ensemble. Šostakovič’s 1971 Symphony No. 15 resonates in an adaptation for piano trio and percussion duo. This late symphonic work is full of quotations, from Rossini to Wagner, and also includes references to Šostakovič’s earlier works. The result is a memory play, with parodistic features and a continuous transition between irony and dismissal.
Program
Vilde Frang, Violin
Artist-in-residence 2026
Anna Prohaska, Soprano
Ilya Gringolts, Violin
Timothy Ridout, Viola
N.N., Cello
Olli Mustonen, Piano
Johannes Fischer, Percussion
Domenico Melchiorre, Percussion
Gérard Grisey (1946-1998)
“Stele” for two bass drums
Toshio Hosokawa (1955)
“Reminiscence” for marimba solo
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847) / arr. Aribert Reimann (1936-2024)
“…oder soll es Tod bedeuten,”
8 Lieder for soprano and string quartet
with 6 interludes by Reimann
Dmitry Šostakovič (1906-1975) / arr. Viktor Derevianko (1937)
Symphony No. 15 in A major, Op. 141
(version for piano trio and percussion duo)
Duration: 120′ (with 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.

Anna Prohaska
Soprano

Nils Mönkemeyer
Viola

Olli Mustonen
Piano

Domenico Melchiorre
Percussion

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 enthusiastic about historical performance practice. Gringolts inspires with his highly virtuosic playing and his sophisticated interpretations. He teaches at the ZHdK and plays a Stradivarius from 1718.
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.

Musica dal Cielo – Music from Heaven | Vilde Frang III
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