Toivo Tulev's new work “O Oriens” (“O Dawn!”), completed for the new conductor of the Estonian National Male Choir, Latvian Kaspars Putninsh, will be performed at the Võru Cultural Centre on December 8, and at the Tallinn Methodist Church on December 9. This cyclic new work was written for male choir and two wind quintets and is based on seven Magnificat antiphons heralding the birth of the Christ child.
The same concert will feature a performance of Igor Stravinsky’s Mass (1948) for choir and double wind quintet, arranged for male choir and winds by Estonian composer Tõnis Kaumann; and Gabrieli’s "Kyrie Eleison", Gallus’ "O Magnum Mysterium" and other works bearing the spirit of Advent.
The Estonian National Male Choir will be conducted by Kaspars Putninsh serving in his first year as the chief conductor of the choir. The concert will feature mezzo-soprano Iris Oja, soloists from the Estonian National Opera Boys’ Choir and a double wind quintet.