Festival information

The Settimane Musicali Ascona was established in 1946 by Ascona lawyer Leone Ressiga Vacchini, with backing from pianist Alessandro Chasen and, later, from Ascona-resident Russian composer Wladimir Vogel.

In the early years, the event was held in the spring.

The six or seven concerts at that time were held over the course of a week, usually in a ballroom. With the opening of the new school building in September 1949, the concerts were moved to the auditorium and the performances were postponed from spring to fall, continuing until 1967.

In 1968, the event took a quantum leap.

The availability of the Collegio Papio and the Chiesa San Francesco made it possible to hold concerts in both churches. These imposing monuments have excellent acoustics, offering artists and audiences an atmosphere that is as inspiring as it is intimate.

From the early years, the special feature of the Ascona concerts became clear: great music with outstanding performers. It can be said without exaggeration that the most famous artists of the classical scene have been guests in Ascona, and many have returned several times.

The Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana also made an important contribution to the festival, participating consistently and playing a central role in the development of the Settimane Musicali Ascona. Even today, this ensemble appears in each edition with one or more concerts.

Dino Invernizzi, who gave body and soul to Settimane Musicali Ascona for decades, was a central figure in the festival’s history.

He worked for the festival for nearly 50 years and served as president from 1977 to 2015. In 2015, he was named Honorary President and replaced by Francesco Ressiga-Vacchini, who served as President until 2025. This change marked a turning point in the festival’s organization: in 2015, Settimane Musicali Ascona was transformed into a foundation (Fondazione Settimane Musicali Ascona), and Francesco Ressiga-Vacchini became its first president. In a way, this brought the story back to its origins, as Francesco Ressiga-Vacchini is the grandson of the festival’s co-founder, Leone Ressiga-Vacchini.

The generational change with Francesco Piemontesi

The most important turning point in recent history probably came 13 years ago, with the appointment of Francesco Piemontesi as artistic director in 2013: the pianist, born and raised in Locarno and since become a world star in classical music, has further strengthened the festival’s profile by inviting leading orchestras and major musical personalities. He has also performed as a soloist and chamber musician, giving the festival a personal touch.

Reorientation from 2026

Christoph Müller’s appointment as Artistic Director starting with the 81st edition is also tied to repositioning the festival, broadening its outlook, and raising its national and international profile. Francesco Ressiga-Vacchini handed over the presidency of the Fondazione Settimane Musicali Ascona to Luca Allidi. The board of directors and management agreed to change the festival’s name in 2025: the festival will henceforth be known as classicAscona, organized by the Fondazione Settimane Musicali Ascona.