News

Premiere of Liisa Hirsch in the USA

On December 19, Liisa Hirsch’s "Four Glides" (2015) for projection and 8 players will be premiered in New York. Piece will be performed by the new music collective S.E.M. Ensemble (artistic director and conductor Petr Kotik) at its traditional holiday concert in Paula Cooper Gallery, where the evening features contemporary works along with rarely heard early music.

Premiere of Arvo Pärt’s „Kleine Litanei“ in Vienna

Tomorrow, on December 10, the world premiere of Arvo Pärt’s „Kleine Litanei“ for mixed choir will take place in St. Virgil’s Chapel in Vienna. New piece will be performed by Arnold Schönberg Choir under the direction of Erwin Ortner. The piece was commissioned by the Wien Museum for the reopening of St Virgil’s Chapel, the text of the piece consists of traditional payers compiled by the composer himself.

Concert „Exciting World of Sounds“

On December 9 at 4 pm, audiovisual concert „Exciting World of Sounds“ will take place in Baltic Film, Media, Arts and Communication School. Program consists of electronic compositions & sound design/audiovisual works by students of Tallinn University and Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre as well as works by Tallinn University school students' Digital Composition Contest winners.

Tõnu Kõrvits’s composer recital in the series „Portrait“

On December 11 at 7 pm, Tallinn Philharmonic Society’s series „Portrait“ presents composer Tõnu Kõrvits. Music will be performed by Kirsi Tilk (guitar), Virgo Veldi (saxophone), Madis Metsamart (vibraphone), Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Kaspars Putninš. Conversation with composer will be carried by musicologist Evi Arujärv.

Concert „rePRESSION“ of ensemble Resonabilis

Estonian new music ensemble Resonabilis will give the third concert within the series „rePRESSION“ on December 5 at 5 pm at Writers’ House in Tallinn. The concerts features several new works composed this year by composers from Ireland, Ukraine, Estonia and South African Republic.

YXUS Ensemble brings Estonian music to the Nordwind Festival

This week, YXUS Ensemble gives two concerts in Germany: on November 26 in Hamburg Kampnagel and November 27 in Dresden Hellerau. Concert "Synergie" program consists music of Veljo Tormis, Malle Maltis, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Galina Grigorjeva, Mirjam Tally and Arvo Pärt.

Ensemble for New Music Tallinn performs a program "Silent Movie Night"

In a collaboration between Ensemble for New Music Tallinn and the Animated Dreams film festival in Tallinn, Ensemble for New Music Tallinn presents the project Silent Movie Night. The highlights of the program is a premiere of a new animation "Bird Flu" by Estonian director Priit Tender with the premiere of its subsequent music by composer Märt-Matis Lill and an animation by world famous and highly celebrated animation director David O’Reilly with a newly written music by French composer Brice Catherin.

Performances of music for silent films composed by Tõnu Kõrvits in France

On November 19, music for Carl Theodor Dreyer’s silent film "Jeanne d’Arc" (premiere 1928) composed by Tõnu Kõrvits will be performed in Amphithéâtre Pierre Daure in University of Caen. Kõrvits has also completed the new commission – original music for Carl Theodor Dreyer’s film "Vampyr"(1932), that can be listened and watched on November 20 at the same hall.

Dutch Vocal Ensemble TIEN will sing choral music by Estonian and Finnish composers

On November 21 and 29, Dutch Vocal Ensemble TIEN will present an a cappella program “Laulan!” with choral gems from Estonia and Finland in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The concerts will be held on November 21 at Engelse Kerk (English Reformed Church) and November 29 at Buiksloterkerk.

Märt-Matis Lill’s premiere in St. Petersburg

On November 19, Märt-Matis Lill’s ensemble work "Capricorn" will be premiered in St. Petersburg Composers’ House. New work for flute, clarinet, piano, violin and cello will be performed by the ensemble of soloists of St Petersburg Philharmony. On November 22, Lill’s music can be listened in Poland, Katowice, where the New Music Orchestra (Orkiestra Muzyki Nowej) under the baton of Szymon Bywalec will play Lill’s piece "Fleeting Dreams" (2004).

Premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s „The Incantation of Tempest“

Today, November 12, the first performance of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s „Tormiloits“ („The Incantation of Tempest“, 2004) for symphony orchestra will take place in Bayreuth Stadthalle. Work will be performed by Bamberger Symphoniker under the baton of Jakub Hrůša. The 4-minute work is dedicated to Estonian composer Veljo Tormis.

The U.S. tour of vocal music ensemble Heinavanker

From November 5 to 15, vocal music ensemble Heinavanker (artistic director Margo Kõlar) will give five concerts in U.S, featuring Medieval music, Estonian sacred folk songs and mass music. The concerts will be held at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, St. James Episcopal Church in Mississippi, University of Idaho in Moscow, Blufton University (Ohio) and Yale Univeristy in New Heaven (Connecticut).

Ensemble U: performs in U.S.

Ensemble U: has been invited to perform at reputable Electroacoustic Music Festival „Third Practice“ in Richmond. The concet will be held on November 6 at Richmond University, featuring 4 premiers, including „The Minutes“ by Jüri Reinvere. Additionally, ensemble will also perform at Minnesota St. Cloud State University on November 3 and in Durham (North Carolina) on November 7.

Concert of music of Jaan Rääts at the Expo World Exhibition in Milan

On Saturday, October 31, recital of pianist Nicolas Horvath will take place in the Gallery of Estonia at the Expo World Exhibition in Milan. The program of the concert on the closure day of the world exhibition consists of music by Jaan Rääts.

Premieres of two choral cycles by Tõnu Kõrvits

On October 25, premiere of Tõnu Kõrvits’s "The Canticle of the Sun" based on the text of Saint Francis of Assisi will take place in the USA. 12-part a cappella choral work will be performed by the University of Southern Mississippi Southern Chorale under the direction of Gregory A. Fuller. In the end of next week, new choral music by Tõnu Kõrvits can be listened also in Estonia, where Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Risto Joost will perform the premiere of 9-part song cycle "Moorland Elegies" on the texts by Emily Brontë.

Music by Arvo Pärt at the CAFe Budapest

Hungary’s most important festival of the contemporary arts takes place from October 2 to 18 and consists of almost 110 events, several concerts present also music by Arvo Pärt.

Erkki-Sven Tüür is a composer in residence at the Moravian Autumn

From the October 3 to 16, festival Moravian Autumns will take place in Brno, Czech. The composer-in-residence of this festival is Erkki-Sven Tüür, whose pieces will be performed there at several times: String Quartet No. 2 "Lost Prayers", premiere of "Conversio II", Symphony No. 4 "Magma", "Missa brevis", "Triglosson trishagion" and "Kui vaikivad päevased tuuled".

Concerts of duo Mari Poll (violin) and Mihkel Poll (piano) in Latvia

Mihkel Poll (piano) and Mari Poll (violin) will give two concerts in Riga and Daugavpils, organised in cooperation with project “Baltic Concert Express” and Autumn Chamber Music Festival. The program consists of music by Francis Poulenc, Johannes Brahms, Erkki-Sven Tüür and George Enescu.

Fresh music festival Autumnfest

On Wednesday, September 23, traditional autumnal festival will start at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. High-level music festival presents musicians from Estonia and abroad, works by composition students and masterclasses.

Kotka and Tallinn – 60 years of friendship

On September 16 at 7 pm, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra will jointly perform with Kymi Sinfonietta at Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Tallinn and Kotka becoming sister cities. The program consists of music by Heino Eller, Eduard Tubin and Jean Sibelius.

Solo recital of pianist Mihkel Poll in Rome

On September 12 at 9 pm, pianist Mihkel Poll will give solo recital at Villa Celimontana in Rome. The program introduces piano music by Estonian composers Arvo Pärt, Tõnu Kõrvits, Lepo Sumera, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Eduard Tubin.

Erkki-Sven Tüür’s world premiere and performances in Europe

Tonight, Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Marimba Concerto "Ardor" will be performed in Germany, Heiden Westmünsterlandhalle, by Heigo Rosin and Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic under the baton of Kristjan Järvi. On September 20, the world premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s "Sow the Wind..." will take place in the Great Hall of the Philharmonie de Paris. Performer is Orchestre de Paris under the direction of Paavo Järvi.

Vox Populi’s tour in the USA with the concert-performance „Meditations with Tormis“

Youth Mixed Choir Vox Populi and their conductor Janne Fridolin has prepared a concert-performance „Meditations with Tormis“ on the occasion of the 85th birthday of composer Veljo Tormis. Performance is based on Tormis’s choir cycles „Nature Pictures“ and „Etudes in Keys“ and has been directed by Anne Türnpu and Eva Klemets.

Arvo Pärt 80

On September 11, composer Arvo Pärt celebrates his 80th birthday. As the boldest innovator of Estonian music in 1960ies, he brought into play all the most important modernist techniques of composition in his earlier works. In 1980ies, Pärt achieved worldwide recognition by his meditative tintinnabuli style. Arvo Pärt's music is performed all over the world and has had a remarkable influence on contemporary music in Estonia and abroad. In September, several events are dedicated to Arvo Pärt’s jubilee.

Concerts of Nordic Symphony Orchestra in Estonia and Sweden

On August 24 to 26, Nordic Symphony Orchestra under the guidance of Anu Tali will give three concerts in Tallinn and Tartu and on August 28, the orchestra will perform in Stockholm. The program consists of music by Erkki-Sven Tüür, Pēteris Vasks and Dmitri Shostakovich.

Oboist Kalev Kuljus performs in Japan

On August 19, oboist Kalev Kuljus will be the featured soloist in Oboe Concerto in C major KV 314 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Tokyo. The concert takes place within the annual IDRS (International Double-Reed Association) conference-festival. Additionally, Kuljus performs on August 21 at Suntory Hall, performing baroque music .

The 11th Tallinn Chamber Music Festival to begin

From August 21 to 30, traditional highly valued classical music event will take place in Tallinn. This year’s festival presents Estonian outstanding soloists and guests from Belgium, Turkey, Macedonia, Russia, Czech Republic, Japan, Australia and Korea.

Composer Veljo Tormis 85

On August 7, one of the Estonian living masters, composer Veljo Tormis, celebrates his 85th birthday. His contribution to the Estonian choral tradition and world choral music is invaluable, one may say that he has created a choral tradition of his own. In August, there are many concerts and performances dedicated to Veljo Tormis’s jubilee in Estonia.

Estica Woodwind Quintet together with sand artist Madli Luuk

On August 6 at 8 pm, Woodwind Quintet Estica will give a concert in Tallinn House of Blackheads where classical music and sand art will be brought together to the traditional concert venue. Programme: György Ligeti, Darius Milhaud, Jacques Ibert, Cyrillus Kreek, Enn Vetemaa.

Estonian Music Information Centre is on summer vacation

Estonian Music Information Centre is on summer vacation until the 4th of August. Find the concerts in July from our Calendar of Music Events. Have a wonderful summer!

23rd Rapla Church Music Festival

In the end of this week, Rapla Church Music Festival will begin in the city of Rapla and churches nearby. Festival presents great sacred works and top musicians from Estonia and abroad. On July 8, the world premiere of Mirjam Tally’s "Against All Four Winds" for cello, flute and guitar will take place in Vahastu church.

Brand new CD of clarinet music by Brahms and Schumann has been released

Clarinetist and composer Selvadore Rähni has released a new CD of Romantic clarinet masterpieces from composers Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann performed by Selvadore Rähni and his wife pianist Tuuli Rähni.

Andres Uibo performs in Belgium

On June 12 at 8.30 pm, organist and composer Andres Uibo will give a solo recital at Atwerpen Cathedral, performing organ music by Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach, Andres Uibo, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Arvo Pärt.

Estonian National Male Choir is participating in a performance of Symphony No. 13 by Shostakovitch in Germany

On June 11 and 12, Estonian National Male Choir will participate in a performance of Dmitri Shostakovitch’s Symphony No. 113 in B flat minor, Op 113 (Babi Yar) in Hannover with NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Sanderling. Concerts will take palce at NDR’s Great Hall.

Nargenfestival’s concerts in June

The 10th summer season of Nargenfestival starts with the concert of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra in Estonia Concert Hall on June 12. Weekend concerts in Haapsalu Dome Church are dedicated to composer Cyrillus Kreek (1889–1962).

Duo Imbi Tarum – Julia Ageyeva Hess will perform in Boston

On June 10, harpsichord duo Imbi Tarum and Julia Ageyeva Hess will give a concert within the Finge Concerts series of Boston Early Music Festival at Old South Church. The program consists of music by Buxtehude, Müthel, Rannap, Eespere and Kõrvits.

Summer organ festivals begin in Pärnu and by the lake Peipus

On Friday, June 5, two organ festivals begin in Estonia: II Peipsimaa Organ Festival and XIII Pärnu Organ Festival.

60 years of friendship

Today, on March 3 at 7 pm, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra will jointly perform with Kymi Sinfonietta at Kotka Concert Hall in Finland, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Tallinn and Kotka becoming sister cities. The program consists of music by Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt and Jean Sibelius.

Estonian Musical Compositions and Performing Groups are Welcome in Great Britain

An event for developing contacts in Great Britain introducing Estonian classical music entitled "Estonia – A Music Powerhouse" was held in Cardiff, Wales on 22 May. Preliminary agreements were signed for commissioning Estonian musical compositions and bringing musical performing groups to Great Britain.

Estonian Composers’ Festival

International Contemporary Music Festival Estonian Composers’ Festival (ECF) 2015 presents premieres by composers from Estonian and abroad. ECF takes place from May 22 to 29 in Tallinn and Tartu, the program is international more than ever. Festival composers are Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes and Italian Ivan Fedele.

Ensemble U: performs in Rotterdam

On May 21, new music ensemble Ensemble U: will perform a live showcase within the „Classical:NEXT“, the global meeting for all art music innovators. This year the world’s most important classical music meeting will be held from May 20 to 23 in Rotterdam.

Estonian National Male Choir’s concert tour to France and Canada

From May 15 to 17, Estonian National Male Choir under the baton of its chief conductor Mikk Üleoja will give two a cappella concerts in France within the Festival de la Voix de Châteauroux. From May 20 to 31, the choir will have concerts in Ontario, Canada.

Music threatre performance „Adam’s Passion“ by Arvo Pärt and Robert Wilson

From May 12–16, world premieres of theatre performance „Adam’s Passion“ on Arvo Pärt’s music will take place five times in Noblessner Foundry, Tallinn. Performance is designed and directed by American theatre visionary Robert Wilson. „Adam’s Passion” celebrates the 80th birthday of Arvo Pärt and the year of music in Estonia. The producers of the spectacles are Eesti Kontsert and Change Performing Arts (Milan).

Vale of Glamorgan Festival celebrates Arvo Pärt’s 80th birthday

Vale of Glamorgan Festival in Wales celebrates Arvo Pärt’s 80th birthday, among performers there are also Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and Estonian Phiharmonic Chamber Choir. Festival takes place from May 12 to 23 and presents also music by other Estonian composers: Helena Tulve, Toivo Tulev, Märt-Matis Lill, Veljo Tormis, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Jaan Rääts and Tõnu Kõrvits.

Lepo Sumera’s Cello Concerto will be performed in Finland

On May 11 in Helsinki and May 13 in Lohja, Lepo Sumera’s music will be performed by Helsinki University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Mikk Murdvee (soloist cellist Klaus Mäkelä).

The 14th International Choir Festival „Tallinn 2015“

From April 23 to 25, the 14th International Choir Festival „Tallinn 2015“ brings 30 choirs from Austria, Indonesia, Lithuania, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Slovenia, Finland, Belarus and Estonia to Tallinn. Choirs will compete in the following categories: children’s, youth, female, male, mixed and chamber choirs, folk song, contemporary and early music. The award fund is 22 000 €.

Urmas Sisask in Japan

On the initiative of the concert series Estonian Music Project, the visit of composer Urmas Sisask to Japan takes place in this week. There are two concerts, world premiere and meetings on the way.

New CD of Rudolf Tobias’s organ music has been released

On April 6, record label Toccata Classics released a brand new CD featuring organ music by Rudolf Tobias, performed by organist Ines Maidre and soprano Arete Teemets.

The Netherlands Chamber Choir sings Northern European program in Holland

From April 12 to 19, The Netherlands Chamber Choir under the baton of its chief conductor Risto Joost will perform program entitled „In Scandinavian Circles“, featuring choral music by Sven-David Sandström, Veljo Tormis, Uģis Prauliņš, Knut Nystedt, Bo Holten and Pēteris Vasks.

Estonian Music Days Festival

At the end of this week, Estonian Music Days – the main festival of new creations by Estonian composers – will start in Tallinn. Main theme of this year’s festival is Abundance with its several shades, juxtapositions and implications. Festival presents over 30 new compositions from our professional composers and the same amount from the young composers.

Pärt Uusberg’s new work will be premiered by Kädy Plaas and Martti Raide

On April 2 at 7 pm, soprano Kädy Plaas and pianist Martti Raide will premiere composer Pärt Uusberg’s new work, additionally the program features vocal music by Lepo Sumera, Tõnu Kõrvits, William Bolcom, John Harbison and Osvaldo Golijov.

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir concert tour to Germany

From March 25 to 27, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with Württemberg Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Gottfried von der Goltz will give three concerts in Heilbronn, Dortmund and Ulm, featuring music by Erkki-Sven Tüür, Arvo Pärt and Franz Jopseh Haydn.

Tallinn Music Week

On Wednesday, March 25, music industry conference and one of the biggest indoor festivals in the Nordic-Baltic region – Tallinn Music Week – begins in Tallinn. The festival brings together around 800 music industry players, the artist line-up presents more than 200 Estonian and international acts from diverse musical genres.

Concert „From Estonia with Love“ in New York

On March 21, New York based choir The Stonewall Chorale under the direction of Cynthia Powell will give a concert in Church of the Holy Apostles, performing Arvo Pärt’s Berliner Messe in honor of Arvo Pärt's 80th birthday, and Tõnu Kõrvits’s Kreek’s Notebook (New York City premiere of the full work). Half an hour before the concert, Tõnu Kõrvits will introduce his piece himself.

Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Piano Concerto opens the 23rd International Piano Stars Festival

The Latvian premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Piano Concerto (2006) will take place at the opening concert of the 23rd International Piano Stars Festival in Liepāja. Performers are Laura Mikkola (Finland) and Liepāja Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andres Mustonen.

New work of Toivo Tulev at the Oslo Church Music Festival

On March 11, Toivo Tulev’s new piece "Ah, ne güzelsin!" ("Behold, thou art fair!") (2014) for two tenors, kemençe, kanun and chamber choir will be premiered in the program "Songs of Songs" at the Oslo International Church Music Festival. Tulev’s music will be performed by Latvian Radio Choir, Rūdolfs Bērtiņš (Latvia, tenor) and ensemble Sarband under the baton of Kaspars Putniņš.

Organ concert of Andres Uibo in Notre-Dame de Paris

Tomorrow, on March 7, Estonian organist, composer and the professor of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Andres Uibo will give a concert in the Notre-Dame de Paris. He will play music by Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Sebastian Bach as well as Arvo Pärt and Uibo himself.

Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and ensemble FRESH at Oulu Music Festival

Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and ensemble FRESH will perform at Oulu Music Festival in North Finland. The concerts featuring music by Tõnu Kõrvits, Jean Sibelius, Anton Arensky, Dave Heath, Béla Bartók, Max Reger, Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven will be held on March 7 and 8.

Concerts of Arvo Pärt’s music by Spanish National Orchestra

This and next week, Spanish National Orchestra (Orquesta Nacional de España) will give four concert of music by Arvo Pärt in Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid. Conductors are John Storgårds and Tõnu Kaljuste.

Concerts „Arvo Pärt 80“ in Barcelona

In the end of this week, three concerts dedicated to the birthday of Arvo Pärt will take place in Basílica Santa Maria del Pi in Barcelona. Performers are Latvian Radio Choir under the baton of Sigvards Kļava and different Catalonian choirs.

Organist Aare-Paul Lattik performs in Moldova

On March 3, organist Aare-Paul Lattik gives a solo recital within the International Music Festival in Chișinău performing music by Alexandre Guilmant, Arvo Pärt, Artur Kapp, Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Bonnet, Guy Bovet, Philip Glass and Maurice Duruflé.

Concerts of Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra in the U.S

On February 26, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Tõnu Kaljuste will give two concerts in Salt Lake City, featuring music by Brett Dean, Arvo Pärt and Lepo Sumera. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir continues the concert tour in the U.S with three a cappella concerts in Denver, Beaver Creek and Washington, featuring music by Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis and Jean Sibelius.

Palace Music Concert Series: duo Resonabilis

On February 22 at 5 pm, duo Resonabilis (Kristi Mühling – kannel, Tarmo Johannes – flute) will perform at Kadriorg Palace within Palace Music Concert Series. The program entitled „Estonian time“ features music by Galina Grigorjeva, Raimo Kangro, Malle Maltis, Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes, Mati Kuulberg, Ester Mägi and John Buckley.

Mustonenfest Tallinn-Tel Aviv

Tomorrow, music festival Mustonenfest Tallinn-Tel Aviv will begin in Israel. 12 concerts in Tel Aviv presents Kadri Voorand Trio, ensemble Hortus Musicus, Anto Õnnis (tenor), Pavlo Balakin (bass), Riho Ridbeck (bass), Tõnis Kaumann (baritone), Ivo Sillamaa (organ), Virgo Sillamaa (guitar), Estonian National Male Choir, Girls’ Choir Ellerhein, conductors Andres Mustonen, Ingrid Kõrvits and Mikk Üleoja togehter with many Israeli musicians. Festival takes place from February 19 to 28, artistic director is Andres Mustonen.

Händel’s „Israel in Egypt“ in Riga and Tallinn

Concerts on February 20 and 21 in Riga and Tallinn in cooperation with Estonian and Latvia will feature Georg Friedrich Händel’s oratorio "Israel in Egypt". It will be performed by chamber choir Voces Musicales, chamber Orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga and soloists from Estonia and England, conducted by Risto Joost.

Festival „Perfect Silence“

From Thursday to Saturday (February 19–21), festival „Perfect Silence“ takes place in Tallinn. The key elements of the festival are polarization and synergy of music and silence. The festival connects different cultures, it is philosophical, yet surprising, searching and creative. It brings to Estonia creators, who as interpreters, composers and thinkers create distinctive worlds of words, images and sounds.

Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta performs at reputable music festival in Iran

From February 16 to 18, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta will give three concerts within the XXX Fajr International Music Festival in Iran. Two concerts will be held in Tehran and one in Shiraz. The program consists of music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Edward Grieg, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Reza Mortazavi (premiere) and works by Estonian composers.

Olari Elts conducts "Eugene Onegin" in Norway

In February, Olari Elts will conduct Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s "Eugene Onegin" Northern Norway. Four performances will be held from February 14 to 19.

Early music festival Ceciliana

From February 11 to 15, early music festival Ceciliana, organised by Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre will be held for the 2nd time. Five concerts of the festival features music students and acknowledged musicians of early music from Estonia and abroad. The concerts will take place at Great Guild Hall, Adamson-Eric Museum and Organ Hall of Estonian Academy of Music And Theatre.

Tallinn Winter Festival starts today

The ninth Tallinn Winter Festival takes place from February 9 to 22. Concerts will be held at the Hopner House, Tallinn Town Hall, Swedish St. Michael's Church, Estonian National Library, Horsemill and theatre NO99. Performers are pianist and comedian Aksel Kolstad from Norway, violinists Anna-Liisa Bezrodny and Kristina Kriit, pianists Irina Zahharenkova, Ralf Taal and Marko Martin, cellist Andreas Lend and many others.

World premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s orchestral piece conducted by Arvo Volmer

On February 6, National Orchestra of Belgium under the baton of Arvo Volmer will give a concert in Bozar, the centre for fine arts in Brussels. Concert presents the premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür’s "Le poids des vies non vécues" that is the BNO’s commission in the frame of the centenary of World War I.

MustonenFest 2015

On Friday, Decemeber 30, another Mustonenfest will begin. Andres Mustonen, the initiator and artistic director of the festival, has invited a selection of brilliant musicians to Estonia: Paul Padura-Skoda (piano), vocal ensemble Armenian Voices, Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, ensemble Red Priest, Anat Fort (piano), Hortus Musicus and Art Jazz quartet.

Concerts of Prezioso and Hando Nahkur in Germany

On January 28 and 30, string quartet Prezioso with pianist Hando Nahkur will give two concerts in Ulm and München. The program consists of string quartet „Lost Prayers“ (2013) and Piano Sonata by Erkki-Sven Tüür, String Quartet No. 2 by Sergei Prokofiev and Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 by Robert Schumann. Concerts will take place in the presence of composer Erkki-Sven Tüür.

Annual prizes of Estonian Choral Association

Yesterday, on January 25, Estonian Choral Association announced the annual prizes of choir and wind music in Estonia Concert Hall. Chamber Choir Collegium Musicale was recognised the Choir of the Year 2014, title Conductor of the Year was ascribed to Mikk Üleoja, Choral Album of the Year is CD „Liiv, meri ning mõtted“ where Pärt Uusberg’s music is sung by Male Chamber Choir JÕUD, the Choral Composer of the Year 2014 is Tõnu Kõrvits.

Concerts of Vox Clamantis within festival in France

From January 28 to February 1, vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis participates in the festival „La Folle Journée“ in Nante, France. They will give nine concerts with four different programs (music by Arvo Pärt and Johann Sebastain Bach), taking place at La Cité des Congrés de Nantes.

Tõnu Kaljuste conducts Tüür and Kõrvits in Slovenian Philharmonic

On January 25, concert under the baton of Tõnu Kaljuste will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenian Philharmonic Marjan Kozina Hall. Slovenian Chamber Choir and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra will perform two Estonian vocal-symphonic works: Erkki-Sven Tüür’s Requiem (1994) and Tõnu Kõrvits’s Kreek’s Notebook (2007).

Concert of choir works by Galina Grigorjeva

On January 18 at 6 pm, concert of Galina Grigorjeva’s music titled as "Nature morte" will take place in Tallinn Niguliste Church. The conductor is Paul Hillier who brings together two top vocal groups closely related to him – the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Theatre of Voices, and his recent new partner – the YXUS Ensemble.

Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta performs in Israel

On January 14, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta under the baton of Andres Mustonen will give a concert at Felicja Blumental Music Center in Tel Aviv. The program consists of works by Villem Kapp, Heino Eller, Veljo Tormis, Arvo Pärt, Jaan Rääts, Galina Grigorjeva, Lepo Sumera, Peeter Vähi and Erkki-Sven Tüür.

Piano duo Kai Ratassepp – Mati Mikalai in St. Petersburg

On January 14, Piano duo Kai Ratassepp – Mati Mikalai will perform at St. John’s Church in St. Petersburg. The program consists of music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Calude Debussy, Georges Bizet and Felix Mendelssohn.

Premiere of Jaan Rääts’s prelude in Carnegie Hall

On Friday, January 9, Jaan Rääts’s Prelude Op. 128 will recieve its world premiere. Brand-new piece for piano will be performed by French pianist Nicolas Horvath in Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York.

Pärnu Contemporary Music Days to begin

The theme of this year’s festival is „Performativity 2. Theorizing musical composition“. Program consists of symposiums, concerts, workshops, exhibitions, performances and joint listenings. Festival is organised by Estonian Arnold Schönberg Society.