Music News

Trio Estonia in Canada

Last week, Trio Estonia (Arvo Leibur – violin, Aare Tammesalu – cello, Norman Reintamm – piano) was on concert tour in Canada, in major cities of Ontario. The group, working in conjunction with two Canadian singers (Mark Atherton – tenor and Marion Samuel-Stevens – soprano), gave five concerts: on October 23 in Toronto Ehatare Riterement Home, October 25 in Christ's Church Deer Park Anglican Church Toronto, October 26 in Guelph Youth Music Centre, October 27 in Toronto St. Timothy's Anglican Church and October 28 in Hamilton Central Presbyterian Church.


 Arvo Leibur

Arvo Leibur is the concertmaster for the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Aare Tammesalu is well-known soloist, chamber musician and concert organiser, Norman-Illis Reintamm is the conductor and music director of the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra in Toronto and a former conductor at the Estonian National Opera.

Ensemble presented a programme of Estonian and Esto-Canadian composers. Included in the programme were pieces by Arvo Pärt (Fratres), Maimu Miido (Öö rannal), Kaljo Raid (Largo, Ronk on laululind), and Roman Toi (Palve). To round out the programme, the trio presented
Beethoven's Ghost Trio (Op. 70 No 1 in D Major), and Piazzolla's The Seasons. In all three cities (Toronto, Hamilton, and Guelph) Trio Estonia presented full length recitals to well-attended audiences. In Toronto the audience even stood for a standing ovation.

As part of the mandate of this tour, the group presented string workshops to Toronto youngsters. These were done at Sir John A. MacDonald High School in the Scarborough.

This tour to Canada is seen as a catalyst for further educational and artistic ventures between Estonian and Canadian artists, encouraging not only the teaching aspect of music making, but also promoting the exchange of ideas between musicians in these two countries.

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