The Aspen Music Festival and School has officially begun ticket sales for its highly anticipated 2026 Winter Music Recitals, set to take place during February and March at Harris Concert Hall in Aspen.
In addition to presenting top classical music performances, the Festival remains deeply involved in music education across the Roaring Fork Valley. This support includes in-school enrichment initiatives and the Musical Connections program, which recently welcomed esteemed guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan for outreach visits.
2026 Winter Music Recital Series
The 2026 Winter Music Recital Series comprises three evenings of classical music concerts scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at Harris Concert Hall. A subscription to all three concerts is available for $110, offering patrons the convenience of reserved seating and discounted pricing.
“These concerts provide a unique opportunity to experience world-class musicianship in an intimate venue,” said Laura Smith, Vice President of Marketing at Aspen Music Festival and School. “The proximity to the performers in Harris Hall is remarkable—you can see every gesture up close. Patrons can also choose flexible options to attend individual concerts and reserve preferred seats.”
Concert Dates and Performers:
- February 17: The Junction Trio, featuring Aspen alumni Stefan Jackiw (violin), Jay Campbell (cello), and Conrad Tao (piano), will present “Ghosts and Echoes,” a program spanning multiple centuries with imaginative repertoire.
Repertoire includes:
- John Cage: Six Melodies for Violin and Piano (selections)
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in D major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”
- John Zorn: Ghosts (selections)
- Franz Schubert: Piano Trio in B-flat major, D. 898, Op. 99
- March 4: Internationally renowned British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, notable as the youngest-ever BBC Young Musician winner, will perform a solo recital.
Repertoire includes:
- Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”
- Robert Schumann: Fantasy in C major, Op. 17
- Alexander Scriabin: Piano Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp minor, Op. 19, “Sonata-Fantasy”
- Maurice Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
- March 17: Violinist Augustin Hadelich returns to Aspen for a rare winter recital, joined by pianist Francesco Piemontesi, making his Aspen Music Festival and School debut.
Repertoire includes:
- Grigny/Piemontesi: Récit du chant de l’hymne précédent (from Pange, lingua)
- Claude Debussy: Violin Sonata in G minor
- Jean-Philippe Rameau/Piemontesi: Pièces de Clavecin en Concert, Concert No. 2 in G major, “La Boucon”
- Francis Poulenc: Violin Sonata
- György Kurtág: Three Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 14e
Smith added, “These recitals embody a key part of the Aspen experience, where one can enjoy world-class culture while immersed in a mountain town setting.”
Musical Connections and Outreach: Aaron Larget-Caplan’s Return
The Aspen Music Festival and School’s Musical Connections program recently hosted guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan in December, who visited schools in Basalt and Carbondale to lead workshops and assemblies.
Larget-Caplan, a celebrated concert guitarist and composer based in Colorado, grew up attending local schools including Basalt Middle School and Carbondale Community School, making his return a meaningful “full circle” moment.
Reflecting on his own youth, Larget-Caplan said, “When I was young, a Denver Symphony visit inspired me deeply. Music changed my life, improving my discipline and academic performance. Now I’m committed to providing similar inspiration to today’s students.”
Having performed internationally across the U.S., Europe, Russia, and Taiwan, and premiered over 120 works, Larget-Caplan emphasized the importance of accessibility in music education.
“You don’t have to be a professional musician to benefit from music,” he stated. “There are countless paths, and I want young people to know music is for everyone, not just for the famous.”
For further details on the Winter Music Series and ticket purchases, visit aspenmusicfestival.com/events/winter-music-2026.
— The Violin Post Editorial Staff
