A celebrated recording artist, Lugansky has received numerous honors, including the Diapason d’Or and Gramophone Editor’s Choice. In 2023, he marked Rachmaninov’s 150th anniversary with acclaimed performances across Europe and the United States. His 2024 album Richard Wagner was named among Gramophone’s Best Classical Albums of the Year.
THIS EVENING'S PROGRAM: BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 16, Op. 31, No. 1 BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata Op. 109 Intermission SCHUMANN 3 Fantasiestücke, Op.111 SCHUMANN Fantasie, Op. 17 All programs subject to change.pc: Marco Borggreve_Naãve-Ambroisie
SUMMARY:Nikolai Lugansky, piano ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/nikolai-lugansky-piano/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270126T183000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Nikolai Lugansky\, piano END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260818T180011Z UID:1372608 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261220T183000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261220T183000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:Celebrate the magic of the holiday season with Frisson , an extraordinary ensemble of 11 musicians bringing warmth, elegance, andfestive spirit to the stage. This enchanting program features beloved seasonal classics, including selections from The Nutcracker Suite, “Winter” from The Four Seasons, Sleigh Ride, Carol of the Bells, White Christmas, a lively Jazz Holiday Suite, All I Want for Christmas Is You, and a joyful audience sing-along of favorite holiday songs. SUMMARY:Frisson “Christmas by Candlelight” ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/frisson-christmas-by-candlelight/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261220T183000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Frisson “\;Christmas by Candlelight”\; END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260818T180011Z UID:1372588 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261002T190000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261002T190000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:Hermanos Gutiérrez is a two-piece band formed of the brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez. Taking influence from 1950's Latin America Sound they transfer the listeners to journeys through beautiful landscapes. Over the course of a decade and 6 albums, Estevan and his brother Alejandro Gutiérrez have spun instrumental gold with their intricately intertwined guitars. The critically-acclaimed duo has commingled two continents worth of Latin sounds, surf music, western flourishes and melancholia to conjure a variety of landscapes and moods, from the romance of the desert to the vastness of space to the gauzy psychedelia of the mind. SUMMARY:Hermanos Gutiérrez ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/hermanos-gutierrez/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261002T190000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Hermanos Gutiérrez END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260818T180011Z UID:1372630 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270312T190000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270312T190000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:Founded in 2021 by a group of professional dancers led by Laurel Winton, DanceAspen emerged from a grassroots effort to preserve and reimagine professional dance in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. The artist-led contemporary company quickly earned community support, launching with a sold-out debut at Aspen’s historic Wheeler Opera House. Rooted in collaboration, artistic excellence, and a strong sense of place, DanceAspen supports seven full-time dancers and has built a growing reputation for ambitious new work and distinctive creative partnerships. The company has created more than 40 world premieres and collaborated with internationally recognized choreographers, including Jamar Roberts and Yin Yue. DanceAspen has performed at leading cultural institutions such as the Vail Dance Festival and Aspen Music Festival and School and is expanding its touring presence throughout the American West. Beyond the stage, the company’s DanceStart program brings DanceAspen artists directly into Roaring Fork Valley schools, introducing students to professional dance through movement, creativity, and meaningful artist engagement. Through performance, commissioning, touring, and education, DanceAspen brings bold contemporary dance to audiences in Aspen and beyond. SUMMARY:DanceAspen ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/danceaspen-take-me-home/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270312T190000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for DanceAspen END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260818T180011Z UID:1372625 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270302T183000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270302T183000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot, violin Hsin-I Huang, piano
Musical prodigies Simone Porter and Blake Pouliot became friends while training as students at the Colburn School more than 10 years ago. Their musical journey includes extended parallels as they each performed with the Colburn Orchestra, in separate seasons, on The Soraya’s stage. Their professional careers have taken off ever since. All the while, their friendship remains. In this collaboration between the two classical music phenoms, the eclectic Sounds of California program assembles a kaleidoscope of musical scenes inspired by Southern California, ranging from the Eagles to Stravinsky. Friend and musician Hsin-I Huang will accompany the two on piano. THE EAGLES Hotel Californiaarr. O. Marckx ERNST BLOCH Nigun IGOR STRAVINSKY Danse Russe from Petrushkaarr. S. Dushkin MIKLOS ROZSA Variations on a Hungarian peasant Song for Violin and Piano, Op. 4 ANDREW NORMAN Sabina ERICH KORNGOLD Much Ado About Nothing Suite, Op. 11 MIKLOS ROZSA Sonata for 2 Violins, Op. 15 All programs subject to change. “The violinist’s bracing accounts of mostly 21st-century works confirmed the good reasons for her quick rise to fame... Porter continues to earn acclaim for her silver-toned virtuosity and probing interpretations.” — Boston Classical Review “Porter commands the technical chops, throbbing vibrato but, most importantly, the expressive panache needed to bring the music’s rhapsodic lyricism to life.” — Chicago Classical Review “Pouliot’s virtuosity went from moments of great power and brawn to stratospheric notes so delicate they sounded like they could fall from the high-wire at any moment.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer “One of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime.” — Toronto Star SUMMARY:Sounds of California with Simone Porter, Blake Pouliot, and Hsin-I Huang ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/sounds-of-california-with-simone-porter-blake-pouliot-and-hsin-i-huang/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270302T183000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Sounds of California with Simone Porter\, Blake Pouliot\, and Hsin-I Huang END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260818T180011Z UID:1372619 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270203T190000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270203T190000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:Sergio Bernal Dance Company, under the artistic direction of Ricardo Cue, celebrates the passion, virtuosity and versatility of Spanish dance. Rooted in the rich traditions of escuela bolera, Spanish Classical Ballet and flamenco, the company brings these art forms to contemporary audiences while honoring their distinctive heritage.
At its heart is Sergio Bernal, former principal dancer of the National Ballet of Spain (2012–2019). With a background in Spanish dance and flamenco, Bernal has also earned acclaim performing classical works including The Swan and Apollo. His remarkable versatility and international career form the foundation of a company dedicated to sharing the power and emotion of Spanish dance with audiences around the world.
SUMMARY:Sergio Bernal Dance Company ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/sergio-bernal-dance-company/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270203T190000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Sergio Bernal Dance Company END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260818T180011Z UID:1372622 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270218T183000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270218T183000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:From Bach and Stravinsky to Bartók, Vivaldi, and Piazzolla, accordionist Radu Ratoi and violinist Alexandra Tirsu bring together music shaped by dance, folklore, and virtuosity. As winner of the 2024 Young Concert Artists “Susan Wadsworth” International Auditions and recipient of Denmark’s prestigious Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, Ratoi established himself as a pioneer in expanding the accordion’s repertoire. He is joined by internationally acclaimed violinist Alexandra Tirsu, a prizewinner of the 2021 ARD Competition who performs on the 1717 “Reifenberg” Stradivari. Together, the Moldovan-born duo explores an uncommon pairing of violin and accordion, revealing new colors in familiar works.
Radui Ratoi, accordion Alexandra Tirsu, violin
SUMMARY:Radu Ratoi and Alexandra Tirsu ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/radu-ratoi-and-alexandra-tirsu/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270218T183000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for Radu Ratoi and Alexandra Tirsu END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260813T200011Z UID:1368307 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270201T123000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270201T123000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION:
INSPIRE, ENGAGE & ENERGIZE. Lions and tigers around the world are easily recognizable and thoroughly documented, but filmmaker and National Geographic Explorer Sandesh Kadur is on a mission to highlight his home country’s lesser-known felines to help protect their future. An unmatched diversity of wild cats live in India, from the towering Himalaya mountains to arid plains to dense jungles. Discover the tiny, grumpy-faced Pallas’s cat, the fishing cat that jumps into water to catch its prey, and the elusive clouded leopard. ABOUT: BAFTA Award-winning filmmaker Sandesh Kadur is a National Geographic Society Fellow. He creates documentaries that have aired worldwide on prominent networks such as National Geographic, the BBC, Netflix, Discovery Channel, and Animal Planet. He is a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, a member of the International Environmental Photographers Association (Japan), and a member on the board of the International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers. Kadur’s work spans cloud forests and endangered sea turtles in Mexico, rain forests and king cobras in India, and orphaned clouded leopards being rehabilitated back to the Himalayan jungle. Curriculum Connections: STEAM, Ecology, Biology, History, Life Science Suggested Age Range: 6th-12th Grade The STARS program is supported in part by an endowment established by the Frechette Family Foundation.
SUMMARY:STARS: National Geographic Live: Wild Cats Revealed ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/stars-national-geographic-live-wild-cats-revealed/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270201T123000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for STARS: National Geographic Live: Wild Cats Revealed END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260813T200011Z UID:1368321 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270312T123000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270312T123000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION: INSPIRE, ENGAGE & ENERGIZE. We are encouraging a "Behind the Curtain" working tech rehearsal for students that receives very positive feedback. They present sections of choreography and explain how all the elements of the performance come together, including projections, sound, and costumes, and the kids especially love the fog demo. Curriculum connections: Theatre Arts, Technical Theatre, Dance, Costume, Design, STEAM/Physics Suggested Age Range: 6th-12th Grade The STARS program is supported in part by an endowment established by the Frechette Family Foundation.
SUMMARY:STARS: DanceAspen ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/stars-danceaspen/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20270312T123000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for STARS: DanceAspen END:VALARM END:VEVENT BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vail Valley Foundation //NONSGML Events //EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN X-WR-CALNAME:Vail Valley Foundation BEGIN:VEVENT CREATED:20260813T200011Z UID:1368299 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261130T123000 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261130T123000 DTSTAMP:20260825T012324Z LOCATION: DESCRIPTION: INSPIRE, ENGAGE & ENERGIZE. Based on Dav Pilkey's wildly popular graphic novel series, Cat Kid and her frog siblings discover that every kid has a story worth telling as they dive into the messy, joyful world of making comics together. This musical celebration of creativity, perseverance, and collaboration proves that the best art comes from simply starting - no matter how imperfect the first attempt. The team that brought you DOG MAN: THE MUSICAL! Curriculum Connections: Visual Storytelling & Comic Art, Creative Writing, Collaboration & Teamwork, Literary Adaptation Suggested Age Range: 1st-5th Grade The STARS program is supported in part by an endowment established by the Frechette Family Foundation.
SUMMARY:STARS: Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical ORGANIZER:Vail Valley Foundation URL;VALUE=URI:https://vvf.org/event/stars-cat-kid-comic-club-the-musical-3/ TRANSP:OPAQUE BEGIN:VALARM ACTION:DISPLAY TRIGGER;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261130T123000 DESCRIPTION:Reminder for STARS: Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical END:VALARM END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR