Chamber Music in Forgotten and Unforgettable Manors, June 12–August 21

The Society of Music Friends in cooperation with the summer days of Project of Forgotten Manors organizes a festival which includes 26 concerts. Well-known interpreters (mezzo-sopranos Merle Silmato and Iris Oja, flute player Oksana Sinkova, violinists Kristiina Kriit and Lev Bogino, Tallinn String Quartet, pianists Diana Liiv, Kadri-Ann Sumera et al.) will perform beautiful chamber music in different Estonian manors.

Veljo Tormis Festival, June12 to August 7

In July, Veljo Tormis Festival, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the composer, will continue within the framework of the Nargen Festival. The concerts of Tormis’s music will take place at Market of Port of Tallinn, Omari Barn on Island of Naissaar and Noblessner Foundry in Tallinn. Music will be performed by Estonian Television Girls’ Choir, Villu Veski & Tiit Kalluste, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, young folk and electronic musicians, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian National Male Choir, Choir of the State Concert Institute Eesti Kontsert and soloists. Nargen Festival has been held since 2006, the artistic director is Tõnu Kaljuste.

The Piano Comes to Visit: Two in One, July 1 to 23

Concerts by Rein Rannap and Mihkel Mattisen at different Estonian churches. The program consists of piano music for four hands by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms and others, settings for piano of orchestral music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Johann Strauss and Songs on Piano, especially composed for this concert tour by Rannap.

David Oistrakh Festival, July 5–23 in Pärnu

David Oistrakh Festival concerts take place from July 5 to 23 in Pärnu Concert Hall and Pärnu St. Elizabeth's Church. Next to classical composers – Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and others, also music by Estonian composers Eller, Pärt and Tormis will be performed, and additionally, there will be two premiere performances by Tõnu Kõrvits (Estonian premiere) and Galina Grigorjeva (a new work).
As the performers, the Baltic Youth Philharmonic, National Choir Latvia, Tallinn Sinfonietta, Nargen Festival Orchestra, Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, conductors Kristjan Järvi, Tõnu Kaljuste, Mihkel Kütson and Bjarte Engeset (Norway), soloists Valeri Oistrakh (violin, Belgium), Annely Peebo (mezzo soprano, Estonia), Oliver Kuusik (tenor, Estonia), Antti Siirala (piano, Finland), Jan Voglr (cello, Germany), Allar Kaasik (cello, Estonia), and many others will step up in the festival.
Full program>>

Pärnu Opera Days, July 9–10

The main guest of VIII Pärnu Opera Days is The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus with the conductor Alexander Anissimov. They will perform opera „Prince Igor“ by Alexander Borodin and give an Opera Gala Concert in Pärnu Concert Hall.

Hiiumaa Chamber Music Days, July 9 to 11

The 12th Hiiumaa Chamber Music Days will be held at Reigi Church, Kärdla Long House, Kärdla Church and Suuremõisa Castle. Among the performers there are vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis; string quartet (Danae Taamal, Kristel Arund, Laur Eensalu, Ardo Västrik); Ulla Bürger (soprano), Aet Ratassepp, Miina Järvi (violin), Johanna Vahermägi, Madis Järvi (viola), Marius Järvi (cello); Iren Lill (harpsichord) with Fred Jüssi (text) and Hedvig Hanson (vocal) and Andre Maaker (guitar).

Music of Seven Towns, July 9–16

This year Ida-Virumaa County’s summer festival takes place for the 12th time and it offers 16 concerts throughout 8 days. The program includes classical music, as well as early music and jazz. Concerts will take place in concert halls, churches, manors and open space stages. The list of performers includes ensemble Corelli Consort, saxophone quartet SaxEst, Toomas Vavilov, Arvo Leibur, Aare Tammesalu, Toomas Nestor, Andres Mustonen, Ulla Krigul, Jaak Sooäär, Tanel Ruben, Villu Veski, Sofia Rubina, Gerli Padar, Tõnis Mägi et al. The artistic director is Hirvo Surva.

Viljandi Early Music Festival, July 14 to 18

Viljandi Early Music Festival takes place for the 25th time in a South Estonia’s oldest town Viljandi. The jubilee festival features Hortus Musicus, Viljandi Linnakapell, legendary choreographer Jane Gingell with her partner Kaj Sylegard, European Union Chamber Orchestra, an early music ensemble Ministriles de Marsias (Spain) and Iren Lill with Fred Jüssi. The closing concert of the festival offers Baroque opera Acis and Galatea by Georg Friedrich Händel performed by young early musicians. The concerts will take place at Ugala Theatre, St. Paul’s Church, St. John’s Church and Babtiste Church. The artistic director of the festival is Neeme Punder.

Haapsalu Early Music Festival, July 14 to 18

The 17th Haapsalu Early Music Festival offers six concerts at Haapsalu Dome Church and Haapsalu Kuursaal. The festival program consists of music by Johann Valentin Meder, Antonio de Cabezóni, Antoni Vivaldi, Italian and German composers from 17th century and others performed by Studio Vocale, Haapsalu Festival Choir, Tallinn Baroque Orchestra, soloists, boys’ choir Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois (Paris), ensemble Ministriles de Marsias (Spain), ensemble Battalia (Finland) and Iren Lill with Fred Jüssi. The artistic director of the festival is Toomas Siitan.

Lihula Music Days, July 15 to 18

The 2nd classical music festival Lihula Music Days presents over 40 musicians and eight lithographers, among them young talented performers and already acknowledged artists. Festival will also mark the 70th anniversary of Pyotr Tchaikovsky – his piano music will be performed by Alexander Markovich (Russia). Festival is organised by Miina Järvi and Mihkel Järvi.

Glasperlenspiel Music Festival (The Glass Bead Game), July 15–20

Glasperlenspiel Festival in Tartu offers ten different events. The performers of the festival are
Tallinn Sinfonietta with guitarists Slava Grigoryan and Rémi Boucher (conductor Risto Joost), European Union Chamber Orchestra and Carlo Torlontano (alphorn), Kalle Randalu (piano), ensemble U, Estonian Defence Forces Orchestra (conductor Peeter Saan) and others. The festival also includes a concert of music by Lepo Sumera, marking the 60th anniversary of the composer. The festival’s artistic director is Peeter Vähi.

Haapsalu String Festival, July 21–25

The XVI International Haapsalu String Festival presents String Orchestra of Tallinn Music High School; Artest quartet; Brothers Jonathan and Jan-Paul Roozeman (Finland); Jaan Arder, Neeme Punder, Ants Nuut, Allan Jakobi, Lembit Orgse and a gala concert with festival orchestra, conductor Mikk Murdvee. The artistic director of the festival is Eva Punder.

XVII Rapla Church Music Festival, July 22–August 1

The opening concert of the festival will be held on July 22 in Rapla Mary Magdalene Church, performers are the Cello quartet C-JAM and Ellerhein Girls’ Choir, conducted by Tiia-Ester Loitme. Other performers of the festival are Orthodox Singers (conductor Valery Petrov), Saxophone quartet SaxEst, Rapla Riinimanda choirs (conductor Urve Uusberg), Johanson Brothers, Chamber Choir Good Night, Brother (conductor Pärt Uusberg), Kersti Ala-Murr (soprano), Tõnu Jõesaar (cello), Lilian Jõesaar (harpsichord) and Jaak Lutsoja (accordion). In the final concert on August 1 in Rapla Church of Mary Magdalene, mezzo-soprano Annely Peebo, as well as Festival Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Brett (UK) will perform.
Rapla Church Music Festival has been held for 18 years and the event, which began in Rapla Mary Magdalene Church, has now expanded also to neighbouring counties of Rapla. The main organizer of the festival is Jakob Kukk.

Opera in Town Hall, July 23–August 6

The main goal of the concert series Opera in Town Hall is to give the listeners a chance to enjoy beautiful vocal music performed by musicians from Estonia and abroad. This year the concert series consists of 4 concerts which will all take place at Tallinn Town Hall. The list of performers include sopranos Liene Kinca (Latvia) and Angela Papane (Italy), mezzo-soprano Kai Rüütel, tenor Oliver Kuusik, baritone Aare Saal, basso Priit Volmer, pianists Tarmo Eespere, Piia Paemurru, Fabia Massa et al. Tarmo Eespere, the concert master of the Estonian National Opera, is the initiator of this concert series.