Opening concert | Bach, Kancheli & Mendelssohn
21.08.26 > 19:30
> Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Sion
Description
Camerata Chișinău
SLIXS, vocal ensemble
Valentin Uryupin, conductor
Pavel Vernikov, violin
Svetlana Makarova, violin
“Before saving the world, someone must first save beauty. Beauty cannot make a bad person good, but it can make a good person better.”
— Giya Kancheli
For its 2026 edition, the Sion Festival opens with an exceptional concert bringing together Camerata Chișinău, the vocal sextet SLIXS, and violinists Pavel Vernikov and Svetlana Makarova, under the direction of Valentin Uryupin.
At the heart of this programme spanning centuries lies a work by Giya Kancheli, a major figure in Georgian music, which seems to emerge from silence. Ex Contrario reflects the composer’s suspended universe, exploring the relationship between sound and time: “from the very first note, we are freed from our ordinary daily life to float, like a cloud, in eternity” (Alfred Schnittke). Commissioned by Pavel Vernikov and Andres Mustonen, this work—whose Latin title means “by the contrary”—expresses the ideal of peaceful coexistence between Eastern and European musical traditions.
The meeting of the artists gathered this evening extends this vision of hope: Camerata Chișinău, made up of young musicians from leading academies in Eastern and Northern Europe, and the German ensemble SLIXS create, for the duration of a concert, a space for dialogue where sensibilities intersect and respond to one another. Under the baton of Valentin Uryupin, the programme takes us from Johann Sebastian Bach to Giya Kancheli, on a musical journey marked by harmony, sharing, and beauty.
Romane’s Preludes (1 hour before the concert)*
Are you passionate about classical music, intrigued by it, or does it feel like a foreign language? Sharpen your ears, awaken your curiosity, and join one of the Preludes led by our specialist. Enjoy 30 to 40 minutes of guided listening, context, discussion, and presentation in French. Six of our concerts are preceded by a free introductory talk. These engaging and welcoming sessions, open to all audiences, will take you to the heart of the music. One guiding principle: enjoyment!
*Romane Carbonnel, pianist, graduate of the Haute École de Musique Vaud-Valais-Fribourg (HEMU)
Programme
Pieces by Bach, Kancheli, Mendelssohn (details coming soon)
Artists
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Camerata Chișinău
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SLIXS
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Valentin Uryupin
Chief Conductor
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Pavel Vernikov
Violin
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Svetlana Makarova
Violin
Concert venue
rue de la Cathédrale 13
1950 Sion
Switzerland