OpeningNight is a celebration of music, where we show that GAIA makes chamber music a very special experience.

You can experience chamber music in sequences of 30 minutes.
The sequences are repeated three times at each concert venue, always with a half-hour pause in between.
In the pauses you can take refreshments and comfortably stroll from one concert venue to the next.
All three venues are located within seven minutes' walking distance of one another.
You can hear various formations, genres and styles and spontaneously enjoy an evening of chamber music. You determine the course of your evening.

6.30 p.m.
only in Klösterli: Pre-concert talk with the musicians and festival introduction

7.30 – 8 p.m.
at all three venues: Concert

8.30 – 9 p.m.
at all three venues: Repeat of concert

9.30 – 10 p.m.
at all three venues: Repeat of concert

from 10 p.m.
in Klösterli only: Après-Concert with the artists

Ticket price: CHF 5
(No reductions)

The exact programme will be announced on the evening of OpeningNight.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Serenade no. 13 in G major, K. 525, "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"

Tarquinio Merula (1595–1665)
Ciaccona for two Violins, Violone and Basso continuo

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685–1759)
Concerto à 4 HWV Anh. B 311

Marco Uccellini (1603 or 1610–1680)
Aria sopra la Bergamasca for two Violins and Basso continuo

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Concerto for Harpsichord, Strings and Basso continuo no. 1 in D minor BWV 1052

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767)
"Burlesque de Quixotte"
Suite for Strings and Harpsichord TWV 55:G10
with texts by Lukas Hartmann
World Premiere

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Serenade in E Major for Strings op. 22

Performers
Narrator: Heidi Maria Glössner
Violin: Gwendolyn Masin, Gina Maria McGuinness
Harpsichord: Vital Julian Frey
Bodhrán: Jürg Frey
Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra, Dublin
Conductor: Ronald Masin

Tickets: CHF 60

Includes:    
Festival booklet with programme notes and biographies,
Prosecco in the interval,
nightcap with the musicians after the concert

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921)
Danse macabre, Poème symphonique op. 40
Arrangement by Raymond Deane

Manuel de Falla (1876–1946)
Spanish Dance from "La vida breve"
Arrangement by Raymond Deane

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Slavonic Dances no. 10 (from op. 72) and no. 8 (from op. 46)

Kurt Atterberg (1887–1974)
Suite No. 3 for Violin, Viola and Strings op. 19 no. 1
after the Stage Music for "Syster Beatrice" by Maurice Maeterlinck

Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Andante cantabile op. 11 no. 2

David Popper (1843–1913)
Dance of the Elves op. 39
Arrangement by János Ludmány

Vittorio Monti (1868–1922)
Csárdás

Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Serenade for Strings in C major op. 48

Performers
Violin: Gwendolyn Masin, Gina Maria McGuinness
Viola: Dana Zemtsov
Violoncello: István Várdai
Young European Strings Chamber Orchestra, Dublin
Conductor: Ronald Masin

Tickets: CHF 60

Includes:    
Festival booklet with programme notes and biographies,
Prosecco in the interval,
nightcap with the musicians after the concert

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Notturno (Adagio) in E flat major D. 897

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Sonata for Piano and Violoncello in A major op. 69

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Piano Trio in B flat major D. 898

Performers
Violin: Gwendolyn Masin
Violoncello: István Várdai
Piano: Finghin Collins, Peter Frankl

Tickets: CHF 60

Includes:    
Festival booklet with programme notes and biographies,
Prosecco in the interval,
nightcap with the musicians after the concert

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)
Piano Quartet in G minor K. 478

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
Piano Quintet in A major op. 81

Performers
Violin: Gwendolyn Masin, Ronald Masin, Gina Maria McGuinness, Rosanne Philippens
Viola: Dana Zemtsov
Violoncello: Chiara Enderle
Piano: Finghin Collins, Peter Frankl

Tickets: CHF 60

Includes:    
Festival booklet with programme notes and biographies,
aperitif with the musicians after the concert

Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
Suite italienne for Violin and Piano
with texts by Lukas Hartmann
World Premiere

Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition
Version for Piano and String Quartet by Rudolf Leopold
Swiss Premiere
with texts by Lukas Hartmann
World Premiere

Performers
Narrator: Heidi Maria Glössner
Violin: Gwendolyn Masin, Gina Maria McGuinness, Rosanne Philippens
Viola: Dana Zemtsov
Violoncello: Chiara Enderle
Double Bass: Massimo Pinca
Piano: Finghin Collins

Tickets: CHF 60

Includes:    
Festival booklet with programme notes and biographies,
Prosecco in the interval,
aperitif with the musicians after the concert