On February 5, 6 and 7 at 6 p.m. cantata “Shrovetide” Op. 106 for narrator, play leader, dance leader, hoaxer, children choir, mixed choir and chamber symphony orchestra by Urmas Sisask will be premiered in Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (Munga 18, Tartu). Cantata will be performed by Eller Sinfonietta (conductor Lilyan Kaiv), Mixed Choir of Miina Härma Gymnasium (conductors Kadri and Riho Leppoja), Female Choir of the Eller School (conductor Triin Koch), Children Choir of the Eller School (conductor Terje Heido-Rosenberg) and singing students of the Eller School. Director of the concert-performance is Raivo Adlas, artist is Liina Pihlak, stage movement director is Jaanus Randma and light designer is Andres Sarv. Concert-performances of the cantata will take place within the festival “Language of small nations in music” organized by Heino Eller Tartu Music School.
The main source of Urmas Sisask’s (b. 1960) music is astronomy – the basis of many of his works are mathematical descriptions of planets’ movements. The special facet of his interest is astronomy in Estonian folk traditions; folk heritage lives also in his folk music stylizations. Sisask has gained world-wide popularity foremost with his sacred choral music with simple harmony and beautiful melodies.