From June 1 to 3, Cyrillus Kreek Music Days take place in Haapsalu. Initiated by Tõnu Kaljuste and Nargen Opera, the event is devoted to the work of Cyrillus Kreek – a noted Estonian choir composer. At the three concerts of the Kreek Music Days, choirs from Haapsalu, folk-rock ensembles "Hõim" and "Oort", and Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra under the conduction of Tõnu Kaljuste will perform. Beside the folk-music-influenced Kreek's work, Estonian folk song comes forward as an important subject of the Music Days.
Cyrillus Kreek (1889–1962), one of the reformers of Estonian choir music, became a professional composer after studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire in 1912–1916. The better part of his work is about 700 folk song arrangements including more than 400 settings of Estonian sacred folk tunes. Kreek is also an author of several orchestral suites, chamber music and the first Estonian Requiem (1927).
The opening concert of the Kreek Music Days takes place on June 1 at the Haapsalu Community Centre with participants of the festival and choirs of Haapsalu performing under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste. In June 2, two folk-rock ensembles give a concert at the St. Nicholas Dome Church of Haapsalu – a legendary "Hõim" (Rein Rannap, Peeter Volkonski, Paul Mägi, Lembit Saarsalu, Toivo Unt, Andrus Vaht) and ensemble "Oort" from Tartu. On June 3, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra will perform at the same place with Tõnu Kaljuste. The concert programme includes Cyrillus Kreek's Requiem and the premiere of Tõnu Kõrvits' new work – "Kreek's writing book" for mixed choir and strings.
On June 1, founded in 2001 Cyrillus Kreek Home Museum located in a house where the composer lived in 1939–1962, will open its season in frame of the Kreek Music Days.
Cyrillus Kreek Music Days in Haapsalu are the opening event of the Nargen Opera Summer Festival lasting from June 1 to August 31 and including musical events in Haapsalu, Naissaare, Laulasmaa and at the Viinistu Art Museum – in various places of Estonia located by the sea.