Festival Culturescapes, held from November 14 to December 3 in Basel, Switzerland, focuses on Estonian music and culture this year. Founded in 2003, Culturescapes portrays lesser known European countries and their culture by a wide programme of history, music, theatre, literature, visual arts and cinema. Art people will participate, lectures and exhibitions will take place. Concerts of Estonian music including premiers of new works by Toivo Tulev, Helena Tulve and Tatjana Kozlova will hold a significant position at the festival Culturescapes 2006.
First time also a composition contest – this year for young composers of Baltic and Switzerland – preceded Culturescapes. By decision of the contest jury consisting of Roland Moser, Marcus Weiss, Michael Kunkel and Jürg Henneberger, the second award is to be shared by Gundega Smite and Anita Mieze and the third award was given to Carlo Ciceri. Estonian composer Mariliis Valkonen deserved a special award for her chamber work „Impetus” being premiered on December 3 by students of the Basel Academy of Music.
In the programme of the coming festival, Estonia choral music takes an important place. The old music ensemble Hortus Musicus conducted by Andres Mustonen will open the series of concerts on November 15 in Basel St. Martin Church with a programme including „Chant” (2004) by Galina Grigorjeva, „Salve Regina” (2005) by Erkki-Sven Tüür, „In memoriam Helle Mustonen” (2005) by Peeter Vähi, „Da pacem Domine” (2004) by Arvo Pärt and works by Lepo Sumera and Cyrillus Kreek. On November 23 in Lörrach near Basel, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir conducted by Paul Hillier will perform „Two Slavonic Psalms” (1984), „Magnificat” (1989) and „Da pacem Domine” (2004) by Arvo Pärt, „Jusquez au printemps” (2006) and „Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!” (2006) by Toivo Tulev, „St. John’s Day songs” (1967) by Veljo Tormis and „Psalms of David” and sacred folksongs by Cyrillus Kreek. On November 24, EPCC will perform in Uster with the programme including works of Bach, Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek. On November 25, the choir will give a recital of the music by Arvo Pärt at the Goetheanum in Dornach near Basel.
The „Stream” (2006) by Helena Tulve, „Architectonics” II (1986) and „Symbiosis” (1996) by Erkki-Sven Tüür and „Gare de l’Est” (1999) by Toivo Tulev will be performed by the Ensemble Phoenix Basel conducted by Jürg Henneberger at the concert held on November 18 at the Gare du Nord. As a commission of the ensemble also „Doors” by Tatjana Kozlova will be premiered.
The festival programme includes two concerts of the New Tallinn Trio. On November 25, the trio will perform in Uster, playing “Fata Morgana” (2002/2003) by Erkki-Sven Tüür and “Good night” for violin, cello and piano (1998) by Tõnu Kõrvits beside chamber works of Mozart and Arvo Pärt. On November 26, the trio will have a concert in the Dornach Goetheanum performing chamber work of Mozart, Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür and „lumineux/opaque” (2002) by Helena Tulve. Estonian music, works of Erkki-Sven Tüür and Helena Tulve, will also be performed on December 3 at the Gare du Nord by the Xasax Quartet – the ensemble of Swiss and French origin.
On November 24, vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis (Estonia) conducted by Jaan-Eik Tulve, soprano Arianna Savall (Barcelona), organist Susanne Doll (Basel), oboist Riivo Kallasmaa, counter-tenor Taniel Kirikal and Janno Pokk on nyckelharp will perform in Basel St. Paul Church. Integrated by Gregorian chant, the programme includes two premieres: „Summer Rain” for vocal ensemble by Toivo Tulev and „Arboles lloran por luvia” for vocal ensemble, soprano, countertenor and nyckelharp by Helena Tulve. In addition, "silences…larmes” for soprano, oboe, tuned glasses and wind chimes (2006) by Helena Tulve, „Summa” (1977), „Annum per annum” (1980), „My heart’s in Highlands” for countertenor and organ (2000) and „Veni creator” (2006) for mixed chorus and organ by Arvo Pärt, „Spectrum III” (1998/99) by Erkki-Sven Tüür and two movements from the organ symphony „Geminorum Castor” (1994) by Urmas Sisask will be heard.
In the same day, Susan Doll will play organ works of Nicolaus Bruhns and Arvo Pärt in Basel St. Leonard Church.
Many other fields of Estonian culture will be presented at the festival Culturescapes 2006. Exhibition of installations by Erik Alalooga and Meeland Sepp will take place. Dorian Supin’s documentary „Arvo Pärt – 24 preludes for a fugue”, animation films by Priit Pärn and the works of young Estonian filmmakers belong to the festival’s film programme. Writer Tõnu Õnnepalu and poetesses Elo Viiding and Kristiina Ehin will meet the audience. On November 30, „Magic flute” – the spectacle of Estonian Von Krahl Theatre will be performed. Singer Siiri Sisask and ensemble „Jälg” represent Estonian entertainment. At the symposium topics of Estonian history and culture will be treated by noted Estonian art and science figures, such as Rein Ruutsoo, Linnar Viik, Tiia Teder, Mati Sirkel, Johannes Saar etc. Estonian Minister of Culture Raivo Palmaru will take part in the opening events of the festival.
Estonia is the fourth state in the focus of the festival Culturescapes after Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia. Next years Romania and Turkey will follow.