Aspen Music Festival and School announces 2025 winter music programming

The Aspen Music Festival and School brings internationally recognized artists to the acoustically pristine, 500-seat Harris Concert Hall for the 2025 Winter Music Series. The Winter Music Recital Series begins on Friday, Feb. 7 with pianist Nikolai Lugansky.

Fresh off the release of Richard Wagner: Famous Opera Scenes, Lugansky will be performing works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and Wagner. Winners of the Best Chamber Music Performance at the 45th annual Grammy Awards ceremony, the specular Takács String Quartet makes an appearance at Harris Concert Hall on Thursday, March 6, performing works by Beethoven and Bartók.

Finally, pianist Garrick Ohlsson will close out the 2025 Winter Music season on Thursday, March 20. Returning to Aspen after his triumphant 2024 summer season finale, this concert will feature works by Schubert, Skryabin, and Chopin. Subscriptions for the Winter Music Recital Series will go on sale on Jan. 8, 2025. Single tickets will go on sale on Jan. 15, 2025. Both subscriptions and single tickets will be sold through the Aspen Music Festival and School Box Office. All Winter Music recitals take place at 6:30 p.m. in Harris Concert Hall.

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Nikolai Lugansky, piano, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, Harris Concert Hall

Hailed as “one of the most outstanding artists of our epoch” by Le Monde, Russian pianist Nikolai Lugansky is a true international sensation. Renowned for his breathtaking musical sensitivity and interpretative brilliance, Lugansky returns to Aspen for the first time since 2019, ready to captivate once again.

His performance promises an unforgettable journey through a masterful program featuring Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Liszt’s legendary transcription of Wagner’s Isolde’s Liebestod, and the highly anticipated highlight — Lugansky’s piano arrangement of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung.

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Fresh off the release of Richard Wagner: Famous Opera Scenes, a stunning album of Wagner transcriptions, including his own and iconic renditions by Liszt, Lugansky’s artistry continues to dazzle critics. Praised by OperaWire for creating a “pianistic fresco” that rivals Wagner’s original orchestration, this project brings 20 years of artistry to life.

Don’t miss your chance to witness one of the piano’s modern legends in an evening that promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.

For more information, visit, aspenmusicfestival.com/events/calendar/lugansky-plays-wagner-beethoven-and-more.

Takács String Quartet, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, Harris Concert Hall

“Classical music doesn’t get much more life-enhancing than this,” raved The Guardian about a recent performance by the Grammy-winning Takács Quartet.

This winter, embark upon an unforgettable evening of music as this world-renowned ensemble presents a captivating program of Beethoven’s Op. 18 and Op. 135 String Quartets, alongside Bartók’s bold and gripping String Quartet No. 3.

In the pristine acoustics of Harris Concert Hall, immerse yourself in Beethoven’s vibrant and lyrical Op. 18, the introspective beauty of his late Op. 135, and the raw intensity of Bartók’s String Quartet No. 3. Bartók’s daring use of texture and rhythm will provide a striking counterpoint to Beethoven’s timeless elegance, showcasing the dynamic range and emotional depth of the string quartet form.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to be moved and inspired by two of history’s greatest composers performed by one of the world’s most celebrated quartets.

For more information, visit, aspenmusicfestival.com/events/calendar/an-evening-of-beethoven-and-bartok-with-takacs.

Garrick Ohlsson, piano, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, Harris Concert Hall

Praised by The Seattle Times for his “…incredible technique with razor-sharp accuracy,” this winter, experience world-renowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson like never before, as he returns to Aspen for an intimate solo recital following his triumphant 2024 summer season finale. This performance offers a rare opportunity to hear Ohlsson up close in the intimate setting of Harris Concert Hall, where every note will resonate with unparalleled clarity and emotion. From the timeless beauty of Chopin to the mystical intensity of Skryabin, the lyrical elegance of Schubert, and the classical brilliance of Mozart, Ohlsson will offer an unforgettable exploration of these iconic composers — and more — showcasing both his technical virtuosity and profound musicality. Don’t miss this evening of pure musical magic — virtuosity, emotion, and intimacy all in one. Close out the 2025 Winter Music season with this virtuosic, thrilling evening of music played by a true titan of the piano.

For more information, visit aspenmusicfestival.com/events/calendar/chopin-mozart-and-more-with-garrick-.