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Records available

CD canto:). Hortus Musicus

DVD In the Mystical Land of Kaydara. Peeter Vähi

DVD Coppélia. A ballet by Léo Delibes

CD-series Great Maestros. Beethoven, Brahms. Kalle Randalu, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi

CD Quarter of a Century with Friends. Arsis, Rémi Boucher, Oliver Kuusik, Rauno Elp

Super Audio CD Maria Magdalena. Sevara Nazarkhan, Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir, State Choir Latvija, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra

CD Jerusalem. Hortus Musicus

LP Contra aut pro? Toomas Velmet, Neeme Järvi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Pärt

CD The Soul of Fire. Age Juurikas

 

GLASPERLENSPIEL MUSIC FESTIVALGlasperlenspielLogoNew
2016 Tartu

A joint project of ERP and the city of Tartu. The festival Glasperlenspiel (‘The Glass Bead Game’) directed by Peeter Vähi has got its inspiration from the novel by Hermann Hesse. It is certainly a very special musical event in Estonian summer where music lovers can enjoy performers like Australian Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Süd-West Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, Tōkyō Philharmonic Chorus, Quintet of Berliner Philharmoniker, Gidon Kremer, Vadim Repin, Piotr Anderszewski, Olli Mustonen, Kristjan Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Christoph Eschenbach, etc, as well as the leading musicians of Estonia.

 

Glasperlenspiel presents: classical music at Tallinn Music Week

KristjanJarviMar 31st, 2016 at 7 pm, Kultuurikatel (Põhja Avenue 27 A, Tallinn)

GLASPERLENSPIEL SINFONIETTA, Mari and Håkon Samuelsen (violin / cello, Norway), DJ Mr Switch (turntables), conductor Kristjan Järvi
Programme: G Prokofiev, Vähi

 

Apr 1st, 2016 at 7 pm, St Nicolas church (Niguliste Str 3, Tallinn)

CollegiumMusicale300Chamber Choir COLLEGIUM MUSICALE, conductor Endrik Üksvärav
Programme: Tally, Sooäär

Duo Alina Sakalouskaya (baroque mandolin / mandolin), Kadri Ploompuu (organ)
Programme: Ortiz, Palestrina, Castello, Albinoni, Vivaldi

Leigo Lake Music Festival and JÄRVI INSTRUMENTALISTS: Miina Järvi (violin), Martin Järvi (violin), Madis Järvi (viola), Mihkel Järvi (piano), Marius Järvi (cello)
Programme: Pärt, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Tchaikovsky

 

Apr 2nd, 2016 at 7 pm, Rotermann Salt Storage (Ahtri Str 2, Tallinn)

AvarusEnsembleE-ORCHESTRA
Programme: Kraftwerk, Coldplay, Murphy, Mölder, Jarre, Borodin, Rääts, Apollo Four Forty

SCIENCE OF SILENCE: Ivo Lille (saxophones), Hendrik Soon (violin), Edward Soon (cello), Jakko Maltis (keyboards)
Programme: Lille, Maltis

AVARUS ENSEMBLE
Programme: Rajandi

“Sound director” − Margo Kõlar


July 2016, Tartu

Thu, July 7th at 7 pm Tartu St John's church (Jaani Str 5)
Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, Maarika Järvi (flute, Estonia / Switzerland), Alexander Hülshoff (cello, Germany), Helen Lokuta (mezzo soprano, Estonian National Opera), Rauno Elp (baritone, Estonian National Opera), Andres Mustonen (violin / conductor)

Joseph Haydn (1732—1809)
Cello Concerto No 1 in C major

Tõnis Kaumann (1971)
“Three Jewish songs” (première, commission by Glasperlenspiel Festival)

Peeter Vähi (1955)
“Reminiscences of Youth”

Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741)
Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-flat major, RV 547

 

Luigi Boccherini (1743—1805)
Symphony No 6 in D minor, Op 12/4 “La Casa del Diavolo”

GlasperlenspielSinfoniettaKristjanJarviTMW AndresMustonen VPetrikas

MaarikaJarvi320

Flautist Maarika Järvi was born in Estonia, where she began her musical studies at the Tallinn School of Music. She moved to the United States with her family in 1980 and studied at the Boston and New England Conservatories with Doriot A Dwyer and Lois Schaefer of the Boston Symphony. She completed a Master of Music Degree at the Carnegie Mellon University under Julius Baker.
Maarika Järvi has held principal flute positions of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias and the Radio-Television Symphony Orchestra of Spain. Maarika Järvi has performed as a soloist with several orchestras in Europe, Canada, the USA and Japan. She is a regular member of the Absolute Ensemble of her brother Kristjan Järvi, also member of Duo Martinika. As a champion of Estonian flute music, she has made two recordings of concertos, one group consisting of Tubin, Sink, Jürisalu and Tamberg, the other of works specially written for her by Peeter Vähi and Urmas Sisask.
player Peeter Vähi. Chant Of The Celestial Lake, Maarika Järvi (flute), fragm, 4 min 36 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

AlexanderHullshoff HelenLokuta400 RaunoElp 


● Fri, July 8th at 7 pm Tartu St John’s church
PIANO MARATHON

StenLassmann450Sten Lassmann (piano)
Programme: MozartEllerPärtBrahms

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756−1791)
Sonata in D major, K 576

Heino Eller (1887−1970)
Sonatina in F sharp minor

Arvo Pärt (1935)
Sonatina No 1, Op 1

Johannes Brahms (1833−1897)
Variations on a theme by Paganini, Op 35

Sten Lassmann graduated as a pianist from Tallinn Music High School in 2001 with Ell Saviauk, Ira Floss and Ivari Ilja. He continued his piano studies at the Estonian Academy of Music with Prof Ivari Ilja, receiving Bachelor’s Degree in 2005 and Master’s Degree in 2007. In 2003/2004, Lassmann studied as an exchange student at the Paris Conservatoire in the class of Birgitte Engerer. In 2005−2008, Lassmann studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Ian Fountain, receiving Master’s Degree. In 2008, he started his PhD studies at the same academy. He has taken part in master courses of Michael Roll, Boris Berman, Konstantin Lifschitz, Alexander Satz, Howard Shelly and Maxim Vengerov.
Sten Lassmann has gained recognition at several competitions, both national and international: first diploma from the international competition for young pianists in Ústí nad Labem (1997), fourth and third prize at the International Competition of European Piano Teachers Association (1999, 2001) in Croatia. In 2002, Lassmann was awarded with the first prize at the national piano competition in Tallinn and with two special prizes at the contest festival Con Brio. In 2006, he won the third prize at the Tallinn International Piano Competition. Lassmann has also taken part in chamber music competitions: second prize at the Jurmala competition in Latvia (2000) and in 2003, the finalist diploma at Brahms Competition in Gdansk. Sten Lassmann has performed and held recitals in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe, Russia and Canada. As a soloist he has performed with several symphony orchestras such as Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, NYYD Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Lassmann is focused on the research, interpretation and recording of the piano works by Estonian composer Heino Eller. Since 2011, he has released 5 CDs from the collection Heino Eller − Complete Piano Music with 3 more albums to be released in the following years. In 2011, the 14th Heino Eller Music Prize was ascribed to pianist Sten Lassmann for the performances and recordings of Eller’s piano music.
Sten Lassmann currently works as a lecturer at the piano department of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
player Heino Eller. The Bells. Sten Lassmann (piano), fragm, 2 min 18 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

AgeJuurikas420

Age Juurikas (piano)

Olivier Messiaen (1908−1992)
“Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus”
Regard du Père
Le baiser de l'Enfant-Jésus

Federico Mompou (1893−1987)
“Paisajes”

Isaac Albéniz (1860−1909)
“Iberia suite”, Book I

Pianist Age Juurikas began taking piano lessons in the Tallinn Music High School at the age of 4. Since then she has also studied in the Estonian Academy of Music, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the University of Music in Karlsruhe and in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Since 2007 she has been teaching at the piano department of Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. 

Age Juurikas has been awarded numerous prizes at national as well as international competitions, such as the 1st prize at the Vainunas Competition in Vilnius and the Grand Prix at Eesti Kontsert, the Estonian State Concert Institute, the 4th prize at the Artur Rubinstein Competition for Young Pianists in Bydgoszcz in 2000 and the 1st prize in the National Competition for Pianists in Tallinn in 2002. In 1998, the Estonian State Concert Institution awarded her the title Young Musician of the Year. In 2003 she was awarded the first Neeme Järvi Prize for her successful presentation of Estonian music. In 2005, Age received the semi-finalist prize at the International Rachmaninoff Contest in Los Angeles.
She has recorded several programs from the piano repertory with Estonian Public Broadcasting Company. Age Juurikas has gives recitals regularly and has performed as a chamber musician and a soloist with symphony orchestras in the Baltics and the Nordic Countries as well as in Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, France, and in the United States. Juurikas is also known as chamber musician and she has shared the stage with several musicians from Estonia and abroad.
Her favourite repertoire consists of music composed in the first half of the 20th century, especially the works by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Isaac Albéniz, but she is also interested in contemporary music performance. Juurikas has participated in various large-scale contemporary music projects such as Karl-Heinz Stockhausen’s Mantra and Gerard Grisey’s Vortex Temporum to name a few. Her special interest is to play less common repertory of great composers and therefore she tries to incorporate some fresh and lesser-known works into her programs.
Age Juurikas is currently doing her PhD at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

ReinRannap450Rein Rannap (piano), Jana Soans (light and video artist)

SELFIES WITH CLASSICS

Classical music treatments for famous works:

Joaquín Rodrigo (1901−1999)
Concierto de Aranjuez

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770−1827)
“Für Elise″

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835−1921)
“The Swan″ from “The Carnival of the Animals”

Johannes Brahms (1833−1897)
Hungarian Dance No 5

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756−1791)
Rondo alla Turca (“Turkish March”)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685−1750)
“Bachissimo!″ (a mixture of keyboard works in D minor)

Johannes Brahms
“Lullaby″

Maurice Ravel (1875−1937)
“Boléro″

Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844−1908)
“Flight of the Bumblebee″

Rein Rannap (1953)
“O Sole mio-Fantasy″

All arrangements by Rein Rannap

Multitalented Rein Rannap is known as a composer, pianist and an excellent improviser. He has studied piano in the Tallinn Music High School and graduated from the Tallinn Conservatory in 1977. Rannap earned his master’s degree from the Moscow Conservatory. As a composer, he started as an autodidact and went on to study in the University of Southern California in Los Angeles under the guidance of Prof Stephen Hartke. He acquired a doctoral degree in musical composition in 1997.
Rein Rannap has taken part in several competitions as a pianist and in 1973 he won the first prize at the national piano competition in Tallinn. In 1976 he was awarded a diploma at the international Bach piano competition in Leipzig, Germany. Rannap has also premiered the works by Arvo Pärt, Jaan Rääts and Raimo Kangro. He has given recitals in many European countries, North America and Australia. Nowadays he mostly performs his own works and improvisational arrangements of well-known melodies, which are mostly of classical origin.
Rannap is known for his ability to mix different genres and his post-modernist works are a genuine cross-over, noticeably influenced by popular music. He has composed all kinds of music: symphonic, band, chamber, choral, for film and theater, but more than anything else he has written popular songs, and − of course for the piano. Although his emphasis was earlier mostly on songwriting, Rannap is now focused mainly on composing − more or less − serious music.
Download photo of Rein Rannap (RGB, 300 dpi, 3.3 MB)

Sat, July 9th at 7 pm Tartu St John’s church
STRING MARATHON
Elmira Darvarova (violin, USA)

FROM BACH TO BLUES

ElmiraDarvarova350Johann Sebastian Bach (1685−1750)
Loure from Partita No 3 in E major, BWV 1006

Peter Breiner (1957)
“To dear Mr. Bach on his Birthday″

Stephen Brown (1948)
Prelude and Allegro from “Fire Suite″

Igor Stravinsky (1882−1971), transcribed by Josepgh Szigeti
Variation d’Apollon from “Apollon Musagète″

Isaac Albeniz (1860−1909)
“Asturias (Leyenda)″

Astor Piazzolla (1921−1992)
Tango Etude No 3

Grigoriy Zaborov (1935−1985)
“Improvisation″

Sylvie Bodorova (1954)
“Gypsy ballade″

Jeremy Cohen (1957)
“Blues Etude″

Traditional: Bulgarian Folk Tunes

Konstantin Soukhovetski (1981)
“Postcard from the Edge″

Norman Zocher (1957)
“Rock Ethic″

Charismatic violinist Elmira Darvarova is known for her silky-smooth and voluptuous sound. She started playing the violin at the age of 3, gave her first recital at 4, and made her debut as a soloist with an orchestra at the age of eight. She studied with Yfrah Neaman at the Guildhall School in London, at Indiana University in Bloomington with Josef Gingold as one of his assistants, and, privately, with Henryk Szeryng. A prizewinner of several international competitions, Darvarova nowadays gives masterclasses and performs at music festivals worldwide, and she is jury president of international competitions in Verona and Plovdiv.
Elmira Darvarova has led, as concertmaster, major American orchestras, such as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Columbus Symphony, and the Grant Park Symphony in Chicago. She became the first ever (and only, so far) woman-concertmaster in the history of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Appearing in recitals and as soloist on five continents, she is well-versed in all kinds of genres – having performed opera at the MET, she has also shared the stage for symphonic and chamber concerts with giants of the music world such as James Levine, Janos Starker, Gary Karr, and Pascal Rogé, as well as with tango and jazz legends such as Octavio Brunetti, Fernando Otero and David Amram, and in collaboration with Indian classical musicians Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan. Darvarova has been concerto soloist with numerous orchestras in the United States and abroad, including the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow State Symphony and the Staatskapelle Weimar among others.
Elmira Darvarova has recorded numerous CDs for several labels. Among her recent releases are for example two CDs, with chamber music by French composer René de Castéra as well as a CD with the “lost” violin works of Vernon Duke, featuring the world-première recording of Vernon Duke’s Violin Concerto, written for Jascha Heifetz 75 years ago.
player Astor Piazzolla. Primavera Porteña, Elmira Darvarova (violin), fragm, 3 min 50 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

Peter Finger (guitar, Germany)

Peter Finger (1954)
“Niemandsland”
“Summer in France”
“We’ll Meet Again”
“Crossing Roots”

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685−1750)
Violin Sonata No 2 in A minor, BWV 1003
Andante

Turlough O’Carolan (1670−1738)
“Hold my hands/The road to Lisdoonvarna”

Peter Finger
“Getaway”

PeterFinger

German virtuoso Peter Finger probably does not need an introduction among those who are interested in acoustic guitar music. Having started violin lessons at the age of 6 and also learning the piano, Finger found his way to the guitar when he was 13-years old. In the following years he studied music in Münster. As a guitarist, he has been the prizewinner of esteemed competition Jugend Musiziert (Youth Plays Music) twice, in 1962 and 1969. Since the 1970s Finger has released albums and given successful recitals on a regular basis. He has toured in Europe, in the USA, Canada, Japan and Russia.
Finger is also known as a composer. His musical language has been described as the perfect harmony of virtuosity, musicality and composition. Journalist and a composer Kai Shwirzke has written: “His musical cosmos is boundless, showing profound knowledge of both music history and the contemporary state of the art. The attentive listener will therefore encounter the tonal language of Debussy, Ravel or Stravinsky time and again – and, in the same breath, perhaps find himself in the realm of rock”. Finger has been awarded with the Ernst-Fischer-Preis prize for orchestral music in 1982 and his composition Herbstwind (Autumn Wind) won the 1st prize in the composition competition of the Oldenburg State Theatre in 1985. In 2003 Peter Finger received the music-prize of Niedersachsen.
He also deserves recognition as a committed publisher and label head: in addition to his activities as the publisher of the Akustik Gitarre magazine, he has also gathered a troop of highest quality musicians on his distinguished label Acoustic Music Records.
player Peter Finger. Eine Reise durch die Pyrenäen, fragm, 2 min 28 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

TiitKikasTiit Kikas (electric violin, laser harp) & Peeter Vähi (sampler), Grett Semidor (tānpūrā), Kaisa Nõges (tānpūrā)

Tiit Kikas (1975)
“Miracle 5:30″
“Cup of Tea″
“So You Think You Can Dance″
“There's No Camel - Run!″

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759)
“Lascia ch'io pianga″

Peeter Vähi (1955)
“Time Dilation″ (première)

Tiit Kikas
“To Carabas″

It has so happened that in two successive evenings we present Peeter Vähis first and last compositions. Time Dilation was completed less than a week ago, whereas tomorrows work, Fata Morgana, to be performed by pianist Kalle Randalu, was composed more than 41 years ago when Vähi was still a freshman at the Estonian Academy of Music.
The title Time Dilation could have various interpretations, but in the context of the present composition it refers to the ideas of four-dimensional timespace and deceleration of time in  Einstein′s theory of relativity.
Todays evening is called String Marathon. Hence the question if Time Dilation is really a work for string instruments. There is no doubt that electric violin and the two tānpūrās of Indian origin are string instruments. But... so-called laser harp and electronic keyboard playing harp samples – this categorisation might confuse the precise minds of musicologists.

Violinist Tiit Kikas is known as a sound artist − often times using only his electric violin and a looper, Kikas is capable of creating unique and peculiar soundscapes.
It was quite clear from early on that Tiit would grow up to be a musician. He started studying the violin at the age of 4, followed shortly by piano lessons. In the beginning of the 1990s Kikas took a deep interest in the native music of various nations, especially traditional Irish violin music, and started to grow distant from the conventional repertoire that is played in the music schools. The electric violin, now his main instrument, which he took up in 1994, further influenced his journey as a musician. During the years 1995−1996 Kikas improved his skills at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.
Kikas feels comfortable playing in many different styles, whether it is pop, rock, jazz, ethno or crossover. He has been a part of several bands and worked with artists both in Estonia and abroad. He is a versatile musician, having composed music for movies, theatre and original TV and radio productions. Kikas has been nominated for the theatre, music and film prize Suur Vanker as the best arranger and the best instrumentalist of the year. The album Dagö, released in 2000 and arranged by Tiit Kikas, won the first prize as the best Estonian folk album of the year.
Despite his considerable experience with working at the studio his true calling and aspiration is still performing as a solo artist and in 2007 Kikas debuted with String Theory. The album was well-received and found listeners in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Hungary and Japan among others. In 2012 he followed it up with a sophomore album 101 Clowns.
player Tiit Kikas, Everything Happens for a Reason, fragm, 2 min 20 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps


KalleRandalu350Sun, July 10th at 7 pm Tartu St John’s church
THE ESTONIAN “SING”
Kalle Randalu (piano, Estonia / Germany), Indrek Hirv (poetry)

Eduard Tubin (1905−1982)
“Four Folk Songs from My Native Country″
“Waltz with Variations″
“Kantele Polka″

Jaan Rääts (1932)
A selection of Marginals, Op 65

Ester Mägi (1922)
A selection from the cycle “Lapland joiks″

Arvo Pärt (1935)
“Variations for the Healing of Arinushka″

Kuldar Sink (1942−1995)
Piano sonata No 1

René Eespere (1953)
“Persona mea″ (première, commissioned by Glasperlenspiel Festival)

Alo Põldmäe (1945)
Piano sonata No 4, Op 27
1. Allegro
Dedicated to Kalle Randalu

Raimo Kangro (1949−2001)
Piano suite op 1

Peeter Vähi (1955)
“Fata Morgana″

Erkki-Sven Tüür (1959)
“Hiiumaa″
“To Kristiina″
“Short meeting of dark and light″
“Reaching to the top of the mountain″

Lepo Sumera (1950−2000)
“The Piece from the Year 1981″

Kalle Randalu is an internationally sought-after pianist from Estonia. He has studied under Prof Bruno Lukk in the Tallinn Conservatoire and in the Moscow Conservatoire under Prof Lev Vlassenko. He is a laureate of several international piano contests, among others prizes from the International Robert Schumann Contest in Zwickau (1981), the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1982) and First Prize from the ARD International Music Competition in Munich (1985).
Kalle Randalu settled in Germany, 1988. 1994−1997 he was a professor at the Freiburg University of Music and since 1997 has held a professorship at the Karlsruhe University of Music.
Kalle Randalu has given concerts in most European countries, the USA, Australia, Russia and Japan. Among the venues where he has performed are the Wiener Konzerthaus, the Hercules Hall in Munich, the Berliner Konzerthaus, the Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatoire, the Grand Hall and Small Hall of St Petersburg Philharmonia, the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, the Great Festival Hall in Salzburg and the Rosengarten Mannheim.
Kalle Randalu has performed with numerous orchestras, among others with the Orchestra of the Bayerische Rundfunk, the BBC Symphony Ochestra, the Hamburger Philharmoniker, the St Petersburg and Moscow Philharmonics, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Württemberg, Berlin and Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestras as well as most of the Estonian orchestras.
Randalu has worked with prominent conductors such as Neeme Järvi, Mariss Jansons, Maxim Shostakovich, Juha Kangas, Leif Segerstam, Osmo Vänskä, Paavo Järvi and Eri Klas.
Kalle Randalu’s repertoire contains over 50 piano concertos and a large number of solo and chamber works. In collaboration with the Finnish conductor Juha Kangas he has played all the Mozart piano concertos. Randalu has on many occasions played all the Beethoven concertos.
For over 20 years he has been connected with Villa Musica, one of Germany’s biggest concert institutions, which brings together leading German musicians.
Kalle Randalu has released numerous CDs. A sensational success were the seven volumes of the complete Hindemith sonatas with Ensemble Villa Musica, which have repeatedly received prizes, including the Classical Award in France and the Klassik-Echo Prize in Germany. Latest recordings feature Marginalia by Jaan Rääts (2014, ERP), various piano works by Brahms on a double-CD and three volumes of chamber music by Schumann, and CD-series Great Maestros (2016, ERP).
player Jaan Rääts performed by Kalle Randalu, fragm, 34 sec, 320 Kbps

ReneEespere300René Eespere: “There were times when it was common for artists to paint self-portraits. They tried to express the “outer” and the elusive “inner me” on the canvas. When it comes to music, it could be said that all the composer’s creations are a picture of him, though mostly of his better side…
“Persona mea” is therefore a self-portrait in a small format. I have opened myself from three sides – the everyday one, in light tones, in a positive light; the more intimate, secluded side, and a little bit irritated, more tense side, making decisions that are good or not good at all. That is me, or at least so I think of myself. Maybe the same could be applied to you?”

Sun, July 10th at 5 pm Saka manor, Ida-Viru county (in co-operation with Music of Seven Cities)
FROM BACH TO BLUES
Elmira Darvarova (violin, USA)
Programme: Bach, Breiner, Brown, Stravinsky, Albeniz, Piazzolla, Zaborov, Bodorova, Cohen, Bulgarian folk tunes, Soukhovetski, Zocher

Sun, July 10th at 10 pm Tartu St John’s church
DRUM-SHOW
Ichitaro (taiko-drums, Japan), Hele-Riin Uib (percussion), Neeme Punder (flutes), Jana Soans (light and video artist)
Programme: Japanese traditional rhythms, improvisation, anonymous composers from the Middle Ages

player Ichitaro. Taiko-drumming, fragm, 2 min 35 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps; watch Ichitaro from YouTube player.
Hele-Riin Uib invites to Glasperlenspiel Festival player

Ichitaro HeleRiinUib300

Hele-Riin Uib was born in Estonia. Since early childhood the little girl was surrounded by drums; through her step-father she had a close contact with playing as well as making percussion instruments. It so happened that at the age of 13 Hele-Riin started an independent life, though this did not hamper her studies of percussion at the Tallinn Georg Ots Music College. In 2004, she graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music with BA and in 2007 with MA. In the course of 2004−2009 Hele-Riin studied percussion also at the Helsinki Metropolia University, though unlike at the Estonian Academy of Music she concentrated here on jazz (vibraphone) and ethnic (Africa, Cuba, Brazil) percussion instruments like congas, timbales, djembe, etc. Drop by drop she has collected knowledge from different master classes: Arttu Takalo, Juha Tanninen, Tomas Jimeno Diaz, Tommi Rautiainen, Bruno Korpela, Wolf Kerschek, Linda Maxey, Michael Udow, Brian Melvin, and Stanislaw Skoczynski. In 2010, she studied the art of taiko in Japan under the supervision by Emiko Taba.
In 2001–2004, she was a percussion player at the Estonian National Opera Symphony Orchestra. Also, Hele-Riin has been guest-artist with Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Piano Orchestra and NYYD Ensemble. However, she enjoys most playing in duos where the small staff offers more improvisation and creative approach to music like in the duo with the Japanese taiko-player Ichitaro, duo Double Stroke with Madis Metsamart (principal percussionist of Estonian National Symphony Orchestra) and with Aleksandra Kremenetski, to name just a few.
Hele-Riin says that rhythm is the heart of music. It seems that this heart beats in a cruel rhythm and quick tempo because in her schedule there are hardly any days off. The afore-mentioned qualities have made her a highly sought-after musician and concert tours have taken her to many countries as well as made her a frequent guest in recording studios.

NeemePunderHand300Flautist Neeme Punder (1958) is one of the most active early music players and researchers in Estonia. He is highly rated both as flute soloist as well as chamber musician. His musical growth-bed for more than 26 years has been the early music consort Hortus Musicus. This afore-mentioned long-lasting career in the consort has given him enormous knowledge in early music interpretation and historical instruments. He has participated in all the ensemble’s most important tours and performances at festivals and prestigious concert halls in Europe, Israel, the USA, Japan and Russia. By today Neeme Punder is considered to be one of the most respected early music performers and specialists. For many years he has been the artistic director and enthusiastic leader of Viljandi Early Music Festival as well as initiator of several concert series and festival Flutish Kingdom. 1998−2005 Neeme Punder was the artistic director of Viljandi Linnakapell − the oldest early music consort in Estonia.
As a versatile musician he is also held in high esteem as performer of contemporary music and first performer of several works by Estonian composers like Peeter Vähi, Galina Grigorjeva, René Eespere, Helena Tulve, Toivo Tulev and Tõnu Kõrvits to name just a few. His stage-partners have been Aleksey Lubimov, Tatiana Grindenko, Gidon Kremer, Paul Hillier, Natalia Gutman, Daniel Raiskin, Oleg Kagan, Aina Kalnciema, Matti Helin, Patrick Galois, David James, Tõnu Kaljuste, Ain Anger, Toomas Vavilov et al. He has also played in several ensembles and orchestras (among others Hortus Musicus 1979−2005, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Baroque SoloistsArt Russica, Sebra, Barocco a Tre, Early Music Academy and many others. Currently he belongs to the core of contemporary music ensemble − Reval Ensemble − and also group Elavad Klassikud (‘Living Classics’) and the woodwind quintet of the Estonian National Opera.
Neeme Punder’s solo album The Flutish Kingdom has been released by Erdenklang, 2001. His flute solos have been recorded in flute concerto by René Eespere (Antes, 1998), in Flatus II and Trivium by the same composer (Antes, 2001), in the suite by Johannes Talli (Emmanuel Recording Studios, 2003), in Scenario and Vaikiv Odalisk by Lepo Sumera (Megadisc Classics, 2003), in flute concerto A Chant of Bamboo by Peeter Vähi (ERP, 2006). He has been doing numerous radio recordings and has also been presented on more than 20 records with Hortus Musicus.
A huge part of Neeme Punder’s work is taken by teaching activities. He has been teaching flute and recorder in Viljandi Music School, at the Latvian Academy of Music and at Tallinn Music High School (since 1995) and is professor at the Viljandi Academy of Culture by Tartu University and lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Music. He has conducted early music masterclasses in Finland, Germany, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and elsewhere.
Neeme Punder graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1981 as flautist under the supervision by Elmar Peäske and has completed his education with Wilbert Hazelzet, Walter van Hauwe and Marjike Miessen in the Netherlands. He has been awarded the Grand Prix at the Estonian Wind Players’ Competition in 1979.
Neeme Punder is a founding member and member of the board of the Estonian Flautists’ Society, member of the board of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians, member of music expert group in Estonian Cultural Endowment. Since 2005 he is a concert producer at Eesti Kontsert, the Estonian National Concert Institute.

player Belicha. Neeme Punder (flute), fragm, 1 min 43 sec, mp3


Mon, July 11th at 7 pm Tartu St John’s church
YOA Orchestra of the Americas, Alexandra Soumm (violin, France), conductor Benjamin Zander (UK)

Leonard Bernstein (1918—1990)
Overture to “Candide”

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809—1847)
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64

Johannes Brahms (1833—1897)
Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op 68

YOAOrchestraOfTheAmericas1

YOAOrchestraOfTheAmericasLatin Grammy winning YOA Orchestra of the Americas is a world-class symphony orchestra of gifted young musicians, ages 18 to 30, representing 25 countries in the Western Hemisphere.
The orchestra was founded in 2001 by the New England Conservatory and VISIÓN Inc., in collaboration with the support from the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University, the Organization of American States, Inter-American Development Bank and FESNOJIV (National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela).
YOA has worked with many world-renown musicians, such as Plácido Domingo, Yo-Yo Ma, Valeri Gergiev, Philip Glass, Joshua Bell, Sara Chang, Lorin Maazel, Kent Nagano, Vadim Repin and Leonard Slatkin to name a few.
Plácido Domingo is the artistic advisor of the orchestra and Carlos Miguel Prieto is the music director. The artistic council unites many leading musicians and composers, among others Martha Argerich, Tan Dun, Philip Glass, Gustavo Dudamel and Helmuth Rilling.
Free and open auditions are held annually via YouTube to ensure that any deserving and eligible musician can apply.
The season centerpiece is a July – August residence and concert tour held each year in different regions of the world. Musicians, faculty, conductors, and guest artists gather for a 2-week residence of daily full orchestra and sectional rehearsals to prepare diverse and challenging repertoire to take on a month-long tour.
YOA has performed in settings that range from the most prestigious concert halls of Europe, China, and the Americas to outdoor venues not often associated with symphonic music.

AkexandraSoumm400

French violinist Alexandra Soumm is equally at home in concerto and chamber repertoire. The 2015-16 season saw Alexandra’s debuts with Baltimore Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Galicia Symphony, and RTÉ National Symphony, and  returns to the Georgian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, and Orchestre National d'Île de France. Alexandra enjoys ongoing relationships with France’s leading orchestras including the Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de Lyon, Bordeaux and Montpellier, and Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. Next season Alexandra debuts with The Philharmonia, Swedish Radio Symphony, MDR Leipzig, Lahti Symphony, and Luxembourg Philharmonic. In January 2013, Alexandra was named Godmother of the newly established El Sistema France and she has been very involved with the Seiji Ozawa International Academy in Switzerland for the past 10 years.
The violin Alexandra plays on is made by Giovanni Baptista Guadagnini in Turin circa 1785 and is known as the ‘ex-Kavakos’.

 

 

 

BenjaminZander400Benjamin Zander is the conductor of The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and a guest conductor around the world. With London’s famed Philharmonia Orchestra he has recorded the complete cycle of Mahler symphonies. The albums received critical acclaim both for the excellent performance and interpretation. Their recordings of Mahler’s 9th and Bruckner’s 5th Symphony were nominated for Grammy awards for Best Orchestral Performance. Their latest recording, Mahler’s 2nd Symphony, was nominated for a Grammy in 2014.
In 1967, Zander joined the faculty at New England Conservatory, where he taught an interpretation class, conducted the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and conducted the conservatory orchestras.
Benjamin Zander is one of the most sought after speakers in the world. He has given both the opening and the closing keynote address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where on another occasion he was awarded the Crystal award for “outstanding contributions in the Arts and international relations”. In 2002 he was awarded the “Caring Citizen of the Humanities” Award by the International Council for Caring Communities at the United Nations. In honor of his 70th birthday, and 45 years of teaching, he was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the New England Conservatory.

In addition to Glasperlenspiel, it is also possible to enjoy YOA at Rapla Church Music Festival!


Tue, July 12th at 12.15 pm St John’s church (free entrance)
MUSICAL QUARTER OF AN HOUR
European Union Baroque Orchestra (Luxembourg / UK), Jan van Hoecke (recorder, Belgium), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord / conductor, Denmark)

Giuseppe Sammartini (1695−1750)
Recorder Concerto in  F major

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685−1759)
Water Music Suite No 3 in G Major, HWV 350


Tue, July 12 th at 7 pm Tartu St John’s church
European Union Baroque Orchestra (Luxembourg / UK), Bojan Čičić (violin, Croatia), Jan van Hoecke (recorder, Belgium), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord / conductor, Denmark)

“Händel and his London colleagues”

John Ernest Galliard (1687−1749)
Suite of Dances from the opera “Pan and Syrinx”

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685−1759)
Concerto Grosso No 2, Op 6

William Babell (1690—1723)
Recorder Concerto in D major, Op 3

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685−1759)
Ballet music from the opera “Alcina”

Giuseppe Sammartini (1695−1750)
Recorder Concerto in  F major

Francesco Geminiani (1687−1762)
Concerto Grosso No 2 in G minor, Op 3

Georg Friedrich Händel (1685−1759)
Water Music Suite No 3 in G Major, HWV 350

EUBO480The European Union Baroque Orchestra (EUBO) is like no other orchestra: its modus operandi since its foundation in 1985 has been to audition and select new personnel annually. EUBO’s ephemeral existence makes its concerts special: live performances enjoying all the technical accomplishment of the best young baroque musicians in Europe, allied to an infectious undimmed sense of discovery and enjoyment. “The skilful playing of this extraordinary pan-European orchestra… augurs well for the future of Baroque music-making in Europe.” (International Record Review, 2014)
Members of EUBO come from all over the European Union to gain performing experience, working together under the inspirational leadership of Music Director Lars Ulrik Mortensen and some of the world’s finest Baroque musicians. Ton Koopman, Margaret Faultless, Enrico Onofri, Rachel Podger, Riccardo Minasi, Paul Agnew, Gottfried von der Goltz and Stefano Montanari have all been guest directors in recent seasons.
Tours take the talented young orchestra to all corners of Europe − from celebrated city concert halls, to seaside summer festivals, to monasteries nestling in autumnal forests, and to winter celebrations in beautiful churches. And at the centre of these great arcs of European travelling EUBO has established residencies in several cities, most notably as “orchestra-in-residence” in Echternach, Luxembourg, where, with the support of its local partners, it is creating a centre of excellence for Baroque music.
Over the years EUBO has recorded several CDs, the last four under the direction of Lars Ulrik Mortensen. The CD release Peace & Celebration, featuring choral and orchestral works by Handel, was recorded live in concert in Londonwith the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, in September 2013. Gramophone magazine praised the refreshing spontaneity of this live recording. The rapturous dialogue of Mortensen and his youthful crew…put some more experienced Baroque bands to shame.” EUBO’s recording Pure Handel with soprano Maria Keohane was shortlisted for the 2014 Gramophone Awards: “a generous celebration of this estimable organisation’s (EUBO) continuing high achievement. These are live-wire performances, technically excellent and propelled with exactly the right degree of driving energy…(Gramophone, August 2014).
Between 2015 and 2018, the activities of EUBO are an integral part of EUBO Mobile Baroque Academy, a Creative Europe co-operation project, co-funded by the European Union and organised by EUBO and its nine partners. The orchestra has been honoured with the status of Cultural Ambassador for the European Union in perpetuity. Flying the flag for Europe, “EUBO is” as former EC President Barroso says, “a perfect symbol of the power of integration, a subtle and potent instrument of harmonisation between people and nations”.

LarsUlrikMortensenWhen Lars Ulrik Mortensen began studying musicology at university, he came across a book about English music for the virginal − he was fascinated, and it led him to the harpsichord. He studied first in Copenhagen and then in London, becoming harpsichordist with London Baroque and Collegium Musicum 90. In 2004, after a long association with the European Union Baroque Orchestra as harpsichord tutor and guest director, Lars Ulrik Mortensen became its Music Director. A Financial Times reviewer, writing after a EUBO concert, said “Mortensen is exceptional not just for his scholarship and virtuosity at the keyboard, but also because he makes music with his entire body and soul.” In his home country Lars Ulrik is the artistic director of Concerto Copenhagen, whose opera productions at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen have helped to build a profile for the group nationally and internationally. In addition to his work with his “own” orchestras, Lars Ulrik also performs extensively as guest director, soloist and chamber musician in Europe, the USA, Japan and Australia, with distinguished colleagues including Emma Kirkby, Susanne Rydén, Maria Keohane, John Holloway and Jaap ter Linden. Maestro Mortensen has received a number of prizes, among them Denmark’s most prestigious music award, the Léonie Sonning Music Prize in 2007. Lars Ulrik Mortensen’s many CD recordings have reaped major awards. Directing Concerto Copenhagen, his recent recordings include the complete harpsichord concertos by J S Bach, Haydn piano concertos, as well as symphonies by Danish composers Hartmann, Kunzen and Gerson.

ATTENTION! This concert will be the first ever to be broadcasted over ERP’s new live system. Watch it over the web http://live.erpmusic.com or download our new Android mobile app ERP Live. Later, the live recording is available on www.erpmusiclive.com.


Tue, July 12 th at 8 pm Estonian Traditional Music Center (Tasuja Avenue 6, Viljandi)
(in co-operation with Viljandi Early Music Festival)
DRUM-SHOW
Ichitaro (taiko-drums, Japan), Hele-Riin Uib (percussion), Neeme Punder (flutes)
Programme: traditional, anonymous composers from the Middle Ages


Tue, July 12 th at 10 pm Tartu University Café (Ülikooli Str 20, Tartu)
PIAZZOLLA & CO (with a glass of wine)
Ruslan Vilensky (cello, Latvia), Vladimir Kudrin (guitar, Latvia)
Programme: Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, Granados, Cassado

Astor Piazzolla (1921−1992)
“Muerte del Ángel″

Astor Piazzolla, arranged by Ruslan Vilensky
“Verano Porteno″

Enrique Granados (1867−1916)
“Dance″

Astor Piazzolla, arranged by Ruslan Vilensky
“Oblivion″

Astor Piazzolla
“Bordel 1900″

Gaspar Cassadó (1897−1966)
Suite for Solo Cello
Intermezzo e Danza Finale

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887−1959)
Ária from Bachianas Brasileiras No 5

Quique Sinesi (1960)
“Canción Hacia Vos″

Astor Piazzolla
“Cafe 1930″

Quique Sinesi
“Donde Quiera Que Estés″

Astor Piazzolla
“Nightclub 1960”

Zequinha de Abreu (1880−1935)
“Tico-Tico no Fubá”

Astor Piazzolla, arranged by Ruslan Vilensky
“Libertango″

RuslanVilenskyRuslan Vilensky is one of the most famous Latvian cellists of his generation. He was 15 years old when he made his debut with Latvian National Symphony Orchestra in Riga. Pupil of a world renowned professor David Geringas he has become a sought-after soloist and chamber musician and has been invited to perform in different countries. From 2007 until 2009 he was a fellow of the Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic where he worked with world famous artists and conductors and made CD recordings. After an invitation from Maestro Valery Gergiev in October 2009 he was a Principal Guest Cellist in Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra. He toured with Mariinsky Orchestra in Japan, the USA, Canada, Europe and Russia.
Highlights of previous seasons included appearances with Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin playing Shostakovich Concerto No 2, and Sinfonietta Riga playing Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante. This season also sees him playing with Kaunas Symphony Orchestra and working as a guest principal cellist with Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra.
As a soloist he has performed with Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Armenian National Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Norddeutsche Philharmonie, Kaunas Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica Freixenet, Liepaja Symphony Amber Sound Orchestra, Latvian Chamber Orchestra. Ruslan played in such concert halls as Concertgebouw hall in Amsterdam,  Konzerthaus in Berlin, Berliner Philharmonie, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Theater Diligentia Den Haag, Berwaldhallen in Stochholm, Mariinsky hall in St Petersburg.
Ruslan Vilensky was a representative of the Republic of Latvia at the “Eurovision Young Musicians Competition” in Berlin. He is prizewinner of several international competitions and has been awarded with scholarships and bursaries from different international organizations. Ruslan Vilensky is playing an Italian cello made in 18th century.

Wed, July 13th at 7 pm Viljandi Baptist Church
(in co-operation with Viljandi Early Music Festival)
European Union Baroque Orchestra (Luxembourg / UK), Bojan Cicis (violin, Croatia), Jan van Hoecke (recorder, Belgium), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord / conductor, Denmark)
Programme: Händel, Babell, Sammartini, Giuliani


 

Glasperlenspiel presents: classical music at Tallinn Music Week

KristjanJarviMar 31st, 2016 at 7 pm, Kultuurikatel (Põhja Avenue 27 A, Tallinn)

GLASPERLENSPIEL SINFONIETTA, Mari and Håkon Samuelsen (violin / cello, Norway), DJ Mr Switch (turntables), conductor Kristjan Järvi
Programme: G Prokofiev, Vähi

 

Apr 1st, 2016 at 7 pm, St Nicolas church (Niguliste Str 3, Tallinn)

CollegiumMusicale300Chamber Choir COLLEGIUM MUSICALE, conductor Endrik Üksvärav
Programme: Tally, Sooäär

Duo Alina Sakalouskaya (baroque mandolin / mandolin), Kadri Ploompuu (organ)
Programme: Ortiz, Palestrina, Castello, Albinoni, Vivaldi

Leigo Lake Music Festival and JÄRVI INSTRUMENTALISTS: Miina Järvi (violin), Martin Järvi (violin), Madis Järvi (viola), Mihkel Järvi (piano), Marius Järvi (cello)
Programme: Pärt, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Tchaikovsky

 

Apr 2nd, 2016 at 7 pm, Rotermann Salt Storage (Ahtri Str 2, Tallinn)

AvarusEnsembleE-ORCHESTRA
Programme: Kraftwerk, Coldplay, Murphy, Mölder, Jarre, Borodin, Rääts, Apollo Four Forty

SCIENCE OF SILENCE: Ivo Lille (saxophones), Hendrik Soon (violin), Edward Soon (cello), Jakko Maltis (keyboards)
Programme: Lille, Maltis

AVARUS ENSEMBLE
Programme: Rajandi

“Sound director” − Margo Kõlar

 

Press resonance


GlasperlenspielCatTaavetOrganizers:
Peeter Vähi − artistic director
Taavet − artistic advisor
Tiina Jokinen − executive director
Kadri Kiis − producer, accountant
Kaia Lattikas − management of Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta
Inna Kivi, Kaisa Luik − liner notes, booklet, website
Olavi Sööt − logistics
Tanel Klesment − sound engineering, webcast
Johannes Vähi − website, logistics
Reno Hekkonens − PR, marketing

Special thanks: Tartu City Government, Toyota Baltic AS, Urmas Klaas, Juhani Jaeger, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, Peeter Saan, volunteers

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Press resonance

See also: Glasperlenspiel-festivals; Glasperlenspiel 2015Glasperlenspiel 2014, Glasperlenspiel 2013, Glasperlenspiel 2012, Glasperlenspiel 2011, Glasperlenspiel 2010, Glasperlenspiel 2009, Glasperlenspiel 2008, Glasperlenspiel 2007, Glasperlenspiel2006, Glasperlenspiel 2005, Archives: Glasperlenspiel2003 and 2004

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