Pianist Andreas Haefliger will lead off the Aspen Music Festival and School’s Winter Music recital series, which returns this season for a 12th year of performances by classical artists at Aspen’s Harris Concert Hall.

The concert hall will be the backdrop for five performances this winter, featuring Grammy Award-winning pianist Yefim Bronfman; violinist Joshua Bell — an audience favorite and festival alumnus — performing with pianist Jeremy Denk; leading pianists Andreas Haefliger and Peter Serkin; and “the high priests of brass,” the American Brass Quintet.

Each of this winter’s guest artists brings with them a rich array of material, according to Asadour Santourian, the festival’s artistic advisor and administrator.

“The musical world would be envious of the AMFS Winter Series,” he said.

The globe-trotting Haefliger opens the series with an all-Mozart/Beethoven recital on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Bell — classical music’s most sought-after violinist, according to the festival literature — follows with a program titled “In the Spirit of Mozart” on Thursday, Feb. 16.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Bronfman will present Beethoven’s “Moonlight” sonata as well as works by Chopin, Ravel and Russian composer Balakirev. Serkin will play Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier” sonata, Bach’s Chromatic Fantasy, and more on Monday, March 6; and the American Brass Quintet — an Aspen institution for 35 years — will close the series on Friday, March 18 with a diverse offering that spans four centuries.

All of concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the 500-seat Harris Concert Hall, 960 N. Third St. (next to the Music Tent). Single tickets, priced at $52, are available at the Harris Hall box office — online at www.aspenmusicfestival.com — or by calling (970) 925-9042. Special subscription, sponsor and patron winter packages are also available with benefits that reserve the same seats in the hall throughout the winter.