GLASPERLENSPIEL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2008

A joint project of ERP, the city of Tartu, and Eesti Kontsert

Artistic director – Peeter    Vähi

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, Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus, Gidon Kremer, Vadim Repin, Piotr Anderszewski, Olli Mustonen, Christoph Eschenbach, etc, as well as the leading musicians of Estonia.

In Estonian / Eesti keeles

Program
July 16th–27th, 2008

Tue May 27th 8 pm, University Café (Ülikooli Str 20, Tartu), in co-operation with Estonian Debating Society
ELITISM OF CLASSICAL ARTS
Public debate. Participating Linnar Priimägi, Tõnis Lukas, Brigitta Davidjants, and Peeter Vähi. Moderator Ilmar Raag

Wed July 16th at 8 pm, St John church, Tartu (Jaani Street 5)

JUNGLE BOOK OF BAROQUE
Ensemble Villancico (Sweden): Peter Pontvik (artistic director, conductor, countertenor), Nina Åkerblom Nielsen (soprano), Annasara Jaensson (soprano), Dan Johansson (countertenor), Viktor Kallas (tenor), Carl-Fredrik Jaensson (tenor), Yamandú Pontvik (baritone), Olle Holmgren (bass), Markus Ström (recorders), Anders Ericson (Baroque guitar), Magdalena Mårding (viol), Karl Thorsson (percussion), Daniela Valero (Baroque dancer, Mexico), Kaj Sylegård (Baroque dancer)
Program: Renaissance and Baroque music from Latin America (Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico)

As a result of the Indian presence, European settlements and the African influence, a rich multicultural heritage flourishes in the vast Latin America. The Western Renaissance and Baroque tradition that was carried over the Atlantic, that came to take root in the Indian soil and to take on a new form, is a particularly fascinating chapter. However it is difficult to define Latin American Renaissance or Baroque music, since the many pre-colonial Indian cultures had no unifying cultural heritage. One must therefore seek a common denominator in the sacred music that the Europeans, as the dominant ethnic unit, imported to the “new” continent. After the conquerors came the missionaries, impatient to convert the population of these new territories to Christianity. They soon found that music could help them quickly convince the Indians to join in Christian daily life and eventually join the faith. It resulted in exciting musical blends: for example compositions written in the formal language of the European Renaissance, but incorporating the local Indian languages in the text.

Thu July 17th at 8 pm St John church, Tartu (in co-operation with Eesti Kontsert)

DA VINCI CODE: music & science in Italian Renaissance
Early music consort “Laus Concentus” (Italy): Renata Fusco (soprano), Massimo Lonardi (lute), Maurizio Piantelli (lute), Maurizio Less (viola da gamba, lirone)
Program: Leonardo da Vinci, Vincenzo Galilei, Josquin Desprez, Bartolomeo Tromboncino

Download: Leonardo da Vinci. Tre Rebus musicali, fragm, 111 sec, mp3, 2607 KB

Not so long ago a new da Vinci code was revealed. An Italian musician and computer technician Giovanni Maria Pala claimed to have uncovered a musical score encoded in Leonardo’s “The Last Supper”. According to Pala it is a 40-sec hymn that sounds like a requiem to Jesus. However, even the specialists know very little about Leonardo’s musical activities. This program shows the audience an original and unedited aspect of those big personalities and their musical language – by some performed for profession, and by others for delight, including Leonardo da Vinci and the Galilei-family – that represents the joining thread of the extraordinary cultural comprehension of the Italian Renaissance.
Early music ensemble “Laus Concentus” is a vocal-instrumental group founded in 1992 by lute-player Maurizio Piantelli. By switching musicians according to the repertoires presented, the group uses original instruments or their exact copies and follows a philological performing practice. The ensemble is regularly invited by the most important events dedicated to ancient music and gained its fame all over the world also with their recordings made for La Bottega Discantica. One of their main characteristics is to prepare ad hoc programs on the history, architecture and background of those various places where it happens to perform.
Renata Fusco with her versatile talent started as a classical dancer achieving remarkable results. Currently, though, she has devoted herself to singing, being known as a soloist of musicals as well as performer of early music. She is working with several early music consorts. Her world-fame is based on the role of Christine in an Italian video “The Phantom Of The Opera” (2006) by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Massimo Lonardi (Milan, 1953) is an Italian lutenist who actively performs as soloist as well as in several ensembles all over Europe. He graduated in classical guitar with Ruggero Chiesa at the Milan Conservatory, then specialized in lute with Hopkinson Smith. His discography includes dozens of recordings and a number of monographic CDs devoted to the music of Francesco Canova da Milano, Pietro Paolo Borrono, Joan Ambrosio Dalza, Vincenzo Capirola, the works for vihuela of Luis Milán and the lute works by John Dowland. He is professor of lute at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali “Franco Vittadini” in Pavia and at the Scuola di Musica Antica (School of Early Music) in Venice.
Maurizio Piantelli, theorboist and lute-player, the founder of “Laus Concentus” is also a member of “Delictae Musicae”, established in 1992 and considered to be one of the most enterprising Italian early music ensembles.
Maurizio Less viola da gamba- and violone-player is a member of ensemble “Janas”. The core of the Janas” project is considered the nature of the artistic contracts and exchanges between the different regions of the Mediterranean area during the Renaissance and the Baroque, and the interactions of music with the other arts over this period. The members of the Janas” ensemble have for years dedicated themselves to the rediscovery and study of ancient music, and work with prestigious ensembles such as “Hesperion XX”, “Tripla Concordia”, “L’Europa Galante”, “Aglia”, “Cantilen”, “Antiqua” and “La Cappella della Pieta dei Turchini”.

Fri July 18th at 7.17 (!) pm Railway Station, Tartu (in co-operation with Tartu Hansapäevad)

SAXOPHONES’ NUTTY NIGHT
Anders Paulsson (soprano saxophone, Sweden) & the members of Tobias String Quartet, Duo Ulli A Ruetzel (alto saxophone, Germany) & Hubl Greiner (percussion, electronics, Germany); Duo Rein Kilk & Olav Ehala (saxophone & piano, Estonia)
Program: Bach, W A Mozart, improvisations inspired by the photos of the Silk Road

Anders Paulsson (b 1961), a brilliant Swedish soprano saxophonist, winner of several awards. Paulsson’s masterful tone has inspired over 40 composers to write music directly for him. He studied in Swedish Royal Academy of Music, with Jean-Marie Londeix in France and was later awarded a major ITT International Scholarship for graduate studies in jazz improvisation and composition at Manhattan School of Music in New York. Since his debut in Carnegie Hall in 1992 he has performed hundreds of concerts as a soloist with major orchestras and choirs and taught masterclasses all over the world.

Download: Mozart. Quartet in F major. Anders Paulsson, sopr sax, fragm, 4 min 18 sec, mp3, 4034 KB

Ulli A Ruetzel, former pianist, known first of all as a producer of a prestigious electronic music festival “Ars Electronica”, and artistic director and producer of “Erdenklang” and CCn’C Records as well as music publishing house CultureWare Music Publ. Has been engaged in saxophone playing only during the last couple of years, always practicing alone, never rehearsing with stage partners before the concert, thus guaranteeing 100% improvisational performance.
Rein Kilk, known as a successful Estonian businessman. Not so long ago he declared that he could be just as successful in any other field, eg saxophone playing. By today he owns a collection of expensive instruments and we are eagerly looking forward to what he has to say to the audience as musician.

Sun July 20th at 8 pm St John church, Tartu

MUSIC BY TURKISH SULTANS
“Glasperlenspiel” chamber orchestra (Latvia / Lithuania), conductor Emre Araci (Turkey)
Program: Sultan Selim III, Sultan Mahmud II, Sultan Abdulaziz, Sultan Murad V, Fehime Sultan, Burhaneddin Efendi, Callisto Guatelli Pasha, Giuseppe Donizetti Pasha, Gaetano Donizetti, etc

Download: Guatelli Paşa. Valide Sultan. Conductor Emre Araci, fragm, 141 sec, mp3, 3305 KB

The Ottoman Empire was a large empire controlling much of the Muslim area of Asia until the end of World War I. Dr Emre Araci, a graduate of Edinburgh University, conductor and music historian has made original contribution to the scholarship of Turkish music through his pioneering research focusing on the European musical practice in Ottoman court. Based on that research the program offers the audience an early example of incorporating Western and Eastern styles in music, experiments in mixing traditional Turkish song harmonies with Italian style interludes.
Emre Araci has recorded 4 CDs in London and Prague including “European Music At The Ottoman Court”, “War And Peace: Crimea 1853–56, “Bosphorus By Moonlight” and “Istanbul To London” released by Kalan Music in Turkey and Warner Classics. He has published 2 books – “Ahmed Adnan Saygun” (eminent Turkish composer of 20th century, 1999) and “Donizetti Pasha” ( the Italian master of music in the Ottoman court, 2006).

Tue July 22nd at 8 pm St John church, Tartu

GOLDBERG VARIATIONS
Irina Zahharenkova (piano, Estonia / Finland)
Program: Bach

Download: J S Bach. Performed by Irina Zahharenkova, fragm, 108 sec, mp3, 2158 KB

The Goldberg Variations first published in 1741 is the last fourth in a series by Bach called “Clavierübung”, ‘keyboard practice’. (Part 1 being the Partitas, part 2 the Italian Concerto and French Overture, and part 3 a series of chorale preludes for organ framed by a Prelude and Fugue in E-flat major). Consisting of an aria with 30 different variations for harpsichord this work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. Based on a single ground bass theme, the variations display not only Bach’s exceptional knowledge of diverse styles of music of the day but also his exquisite performing techniques. This is also the largest of all clavier pieces published during the Baroque period. The variations’ popular title “Goldberg” is not original. It came later after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer of this work.
Irina Zahharenkova (b 1976 in Kalinigrad, Russia), musician who triflingly wins prestigious competitions both in piano and harpsichord playing. Since 1991 studied music in Estonia. In 2000 graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music. In 2003 obtained master’s degree at the same Academy under the supervision by the same teacher (piano). Since 2002 has been living in Kuopio, Finland and studied at Sibelius Academy in Finland (Prof Hui-Ying Liu-Tawaststjerna). Have participated in numerous workshops, among others: A Hewitt, A Schiff, H Dreyfus, P Hantai. Also acting as harpsichord soloist as well as continuo-player in various symphony orchestras and Baroque ensembles. Prize-winner of 10 (!) music competitions, the last of them being: 2006 – I prize, special prize for interpretation of Mozart sonata and special prize A Casagrande International Piano Competition (Italy, 2006); I prize and audience prize in J S Bach International Piano Competition (Leipzig, Germany, 2006)

Wed July 23rd at 8 pm St Mauritius Merchant Guild, Tallinn (Pikk Street 26)
Thu July 24th at 8 pm Tartu University Hall

B & B
Trio Selvadore Raehni (clarinet, Estonia / Iceland) – David Geringas (cello, Lithuania / Germany) – Michie Koyama (piano, Japan)
Program: J Brahms, L van Beethoven

Michie Koyama, one of Japan’s top musicians who won awards at both Tchaikovsky (1982) and Chopin International Piano Competitions (1985).
In 2005, she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her activity with 2 evenings of piano concerts at the famous Tokyo Suntory Hall. Since 2006 Ms Koyama has announced a whole program of a grand concert project, and has been challenging this enormous 12 years, 24 times recital series:  The World Of Michie Koyama”, “A Romantic Journey Through The Piano Keys”. It will continue up to 2017. Her performances with orchestras include more than 60 concertos from Baroque to the contemporary periods. She has performed with the most outstanding orchestras and the greatest conductors of the world. She plays also chamber music together with several partners from different countries, participates in the juries of various international competitions. As an exclusive recording artist under the Sony Music, Ms Koyama has released 22 CDs, such as Scriabin Complete Sonatas, Chopin Complete Ballades and Schubert “Wandererfantasie / Impromptus”.
Selvadore Raehni was born in Estonia. 1986–91 Selvadore Raehni studied at the Estonian Academy of Music, graduating with the highest grades. During that time, he was also a member of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. In 1990 he was admitted to the Estonian Institute of Humanities, where he was also a student until 1991. From 1991 to 1997, Selvadore Raehni studied primarily in Germany, under Prof Wolfgang Meyer, for whom he also served as assistant, at the Karlsruhe State University of Music, where he completed his post-graduate and doctorate studies. During this time he also studied in Paris under the guidance of solo clarinetist Alain Damiens of the Ensemble Intercontemporain. While a student in Germany, Selvadore Raehni performed as soloist several times with the Polish Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. In 1996, he was selected to represent the woodwind faculty of Karslruhe State University of Music at a concert with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra at Berlin’s Schauspielhaus, performing Clarinet Concerto by Mozart. He also played with orchestras such as the Wurttemberg and Pforzheim chamber orchestras, taking part in concert tours in Germany, Switzerland, and France. 1997–2005 was the principal clarinetist of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, Japan. His most significant solo performances in Japan include Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto at the Osaka Symphony Hall and Debussy’s Rhapsody at the Kyoto Concert Hall. At present he lives on Iceland.
David Geringas is one of the most versatile musicians of our time. The cellist and conductor works with an unusually broad repertoire from early baroque to contemporary music. David Geringas studied with Mstislav Rostropovitch at the Moscow Conservatory 1963–73. In 1970 he won the I prize and gold medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition. At the Lithuanian Academy of Music he studied conducting with Prof Juozas Domarkas. The native Lithuanian was the first to perform many compositions by Russian and Lithuanian avant-garde composers in the West. For his international engagement in connection with Lithuanian music and composers he has received the highest accolades from his native country. David Geringas played all over the world with the most important orchestras and the greatest conductors of our time. His extensive discography includes many award-winning recordings such as the 12 cello concertos by Luigi Boccherini (Grand Prix du Disque), the chamber music by Henri Dutilleux (Diapason d’Or) and the cello concertos by Hans Pfitzner (Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik). Outstanding contemporary composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina, Peteris Vasks, Erkki-Sven Tüür have dedicated their new compositions to Geringas. In 2006, Anatolijus Senderovas’ composition “David’s Song” for cello and string quartet premièred in Kronberg – a dedication to Geringas’s 60th birthday. As a conductor, David Geringas performs all over the world. Since 2005 he serves as chief guest conductor of Kyushu Symphony Orchestra Japan. In 2007 he made his debut with the Tokyo Philharmonic and China Philharmonic Orchestras.

Wed July 23rd at 8 pm Restaurant “Püssirohukelder”, Tartu (Lossi Street 28)
Thu July 24th at 8 pm Kuursaal, Pärnu (Mere Avenue 22)

CARMINA BURANA SPECIALE
State Choir “Latvija”, soloists Heli Veskus (soprano) & Mati Turi (tenor), Electric Piano Duo Mati Mikalai – Kai Ratassepp, percussion ensemble “PaukenfEst”, Prince Peeter Volkonski (DJ), choral conductor Māris Sirmais, conductor Risto Joost
Program: original love and drinking songs from the manuscript collection “Carmina Burana” (from CD), cantata “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff

Download: Carmina Burana, Tempus est iocundum, fragm, 3 min 25 sec, mp3, 5 MB

This program compares the extremely popular magnificent music of the scenic cantata “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff in live with the original versions of those medieval songs he has based his cantata upon from CD. Actor Peeter Volkonski is in the role of a “mediaeval DJ”.
“Carmina Burana” is originally a collection of mediaeval Latin and Middle High German poems and songs taking its name from the monastery of Benediktbeuern in Upper Bavaria where the manuscript, dating back to 1230, was discovered in 1803. The two hundred or so poems written by students, wandering scholars and clergy tell about moral or satirical intention, spring and love, drinking and gambling. There are also songs of spiritual content. Some of the poems are preserved with musical notations in the form of heightened neumes, notational symbols for pitch or rhythm.
The full Latin title of the manuscript is “Carmina burana: Cantiones profanae cantoribus et choirs cantandae comintantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus” (‘Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magic images’). The manuscript was published by a Munich librarian Johann Andreas Schmeller in 1847. Some of the texts of “Carmina Burana” have became widely known through the use made of them by Carl Orff. For their original poetic form, exuberance and bawdiness and the music associated with them, as far as this can be reconstructed, the songs have been described as heathen and barbaric.
“Latvija”, the largest professional mixed choir in Latvia was founded in 1942. In 1947 the chorus gained the title of the State Choir and since early 90s its name includes “Latvija”. The choir received the Latvian Grand Music Award in 1998, 2000 and 2002, and the prize of Ministers of Latvia in 2003. The founder and first conductor of the chorus was Janis Ozolins. Since 1997, the artistic director and principal conductor of the chorus is Māris Sirmais and general manager Māris Ošlejs. The cornerstones of the chorus’ repertoire are large-scale compositions – oratorios, cantatas, masses, requiems, symphonies and concert performances of operas. Their repertoire also encompasses extensive a cappella programs as well as compositions for chorus and organ. This covers music from early Renaissance to the present day. “Latvija” has developed a creative co-operation with leading orchestras from several countries and succsessfully collaborated with many conductors such as Māris Jansons, Neeme Järvi, Mstislav Rostropovich, Valerij Gergiyev, Gintaras Rinkevicius, Risto Joost, Kristjan Järvi, Zubin Mehta, etc.
Risto Joost (b 1980), conductor and singer (countertenor) is a rising star among Estonian young conductors. He has studied at the Estonian Academy of Music and University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna (2002–03), and has participated in the conducting masterclasses of Neeme Järvi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Eri Klas, Paul Mägi, and in early music masterclasses with Paul Hillier and Nigel North. Since autumn 2005 Risto Joost is studying orchestral conducting with Prof Jorma Panula at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. Since 2006 he is the principal conductor of the Tallinn Music High School Symphony Orchestra. In 2007 he made his debut in the Estonian National Opera conducting with great succsess Erkki-Sven Tüür’s opera “Wallenberg”. In 1999 Risto Joost founded the chamber choir “Voces Musicales” and in 2002 his own orchestra, “Ensemble Voces Musicales” which is focused on performing Baroque and contemporary music. In 2004 he won the 1st prize in the 4th Competition for Young Estonian Choral Conductors in Tallinn. He has conducted several Estonian orchestras and choirs as well as Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Swedish Radio Choir and Ars Nova Copenhagen. He also pursues an active solo career as a countertenor. His solo repertoire includes music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods as well as from the 20th cent. He has received invitations from several early music festivals in England, Finland, Sweden, Latvia as well as Estonian contemporary music festival “Nyyd”. He has performed with orchestras such as Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Corelli Consort, Øresund Baroque Orchestra, Concerto Copenhagen, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, “Phantasm” (UK). Since 2003 he has been involved with the vocal ensemble “Theatre of Voices” (artistic director Paul Hillier).
Heli Veskus studied singing in the Estonian Academy of Music and Sibelius Academy. She made her debut in the Estonian National Opera as Elvira (Mozart “Don Giovanni”) in 1999, and since 2001 she is the soloist of this theatre. Main roles: Fiordiligi (Mozart “Cosi fan tutte”), Tatiana (Tchaikovsky “Evgeni Onegin”), Mimi (Puccini “La Bohème”), Ksenya (Mussorgski “Boris Godunow”), Wise Woman (Orff “The Wise Woman”), Ms Pinkerton (Menotti “The Old Maid And The Thief”), Agathe (Weber “Der Freischütz”), Mikaëla (Bizet “Carmen”), Desdemona (Verdi “Othello”), Floria Tosca (Puccini “Tosca”), Nedda (Leoncavallo “Pagliacci”), etc. She has also performed as a soloist in oratorios and masses, including Krönugsmesse, Mass in C minor and Requiem by Mozart, Mass in C major by Beethoven and “Moses” by Bruch, and has given recitals.
Mati Turi has graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music as choral conductor under Prof Ants Üleoja. Since 1992 as a soloist of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir he has sung on many prestigious stages of the world and performed together with renowned orchestras and choirs like Israel Chamber Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Choir, the Netherlands Chamber Choir, etc, and conductors like Eric Ericson, Paul Hillier, Eri Klas, Olari Elts, Andres Mustonen, Andrew Lawrence, Tõnu Kaljuste, etc. Mati Turi has been performing constantly at numerous music festivals: Savonlinna Opera Festival, Helsinki Church Music Festival, Heidelberg Spring Festival, Holland Festival, Venice Syrinx Festival, “Glasperlenspiel”, etc. Thanks to his musical talent and skilful mastery of his voice, the repertoire of Mati Turi includes works from the Baroque age to the music created by modern composers. His repertoire includes the soloist parts of numerous oratorios, opera roles (Estonian National Opera, Helsinki Alexander Theatre), but also chamber music. In 2002 Mati Turi was awarded the Annual Prize of the Estonian Cultural Endowment for his soloist work in numerous oratorios.
Piano duo Kai Ratassepp – Mati Mikalai have performed together since 1998. In 2000, they won 2nd prize in the Interntional Competition for Piano Duos in Lithuania and in Italy, in 2000 also 1st prize in ARD Competition in Munich. They have been collaborating with several orchestras, including “Kremerata Baltica” with Gidon Kremer, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, St Petersburg Maria Theatre Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. The duo have participated on several festivals and recorded music for Estonian Radio and TV as well as to Bayerische Rundfunk and Deutsche Radio in Berlin. Both members of the duo have graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and appear also as soloists. Mati Mikalai won the 3rd prize in International Piano Competition in Kil (Sweden) in 1994 and the 1st prize in Estonian National Competition in the same year. At present both musicians are also teaching at the Estonian Academy of Music.

Sat July 26th at 8 pm St John church, Tartu (in co-operation with Eesti Kontsert)
Sun July 27th at 8 pm St Mauritius Merchant Guild, Tallinn (Pikk Street 26)

WATER MUSIC
European Union Baroque Orchestra, Lars Ulrik Mortensen (conductor, harpsichord)
Program: Händel, Bach, Telemann

Download: G F Handel. Water Music. Suite in F major, fragm, 129 sec, mp3, 3013 KB

European Union Baroque Orchestra annually invites 100 talented Baroque musicians from across Europe to take part in one of the 3-day audition courses. The 25 or so successful candidates, normally from up to 14 EU countries with an average age of approximately 24–25 years, then spend 6 months together, training, touring and performing throughout Europe under the world’s leading Baroque specialists. EUBO has been so successful in its mission, that there are now former EUBO musicians in every major professional Baroque ensemble in the world, including, for example, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, “English Concert”, “Europa Galante”, Academy of Ancient Music, “Le Petite Bande”, “Les Arts Florissants”.
EUBO’s music director Lars Ulrik Mortensen received in 2007 Leonie Sonning Music Award, recognizing his outstanding work as a harpsichordist and conductor in the early music field. The award was first given in 1959 to Igor Stravinsky, and other recipients have included Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Yo-Yo Ma and Alfred Brendel.
As the title of this concert says, the main work in this program will be “Water Music” by Georg Friedrich Händel, originally written to be performed at a dinner party. In 1717, King George I of England took his nobles out on the Thames in huge open-air barges. Händel, a young composer at this time, was commissioned to write joyous and soothing music to be played on the barges, hence the name “Water Music”. It is widely believed that the king liked it so much that he had it played over 3 times throughout the party. This unique setting forced Händel to improvise and innovate. “Water Music” is the first English composition ever to include French horns. Händel discovered that, especially in unison with the trumpets, they were ideal for music being played outdoors. The original score of “Water Music” has been lost. The surviving copies sometimes group the score into 3 suites (F, G and D major). The largest of them is suite in F major to be performed just at this concert.

Sun July 27th at 8 pm Raadi (former Soviet) military area, Tartu (Puiestee Street 114)

PRO PATRIA
Orchestra of Estonian Defence Forces, Mixed Choir of Estonia Society, chmaber choir “A Le Coq”, Helen Lokuta (mezzo-soprano), Peeter Tooma (narrator), conductor Peeter Saan
Program: Sisask

Urmas Sisask (b 1960) studied composition with René Eespere and graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1985. His work, although otherwise rich in meaning, is characterized by stylistic eclecticity. In Sisask’s case we cannot ignore certain starting points concerning the content and conception which are unique in Estonian music: his interest in astronomy, which has inspired him to write the so-called astro-music within a system of his own. The first open opus in this field is a rather popular cycle of piano pieces “Starry Sky” (began in 1980). Sisask’s work is diverse in genre, he has written a capella choral, chamber, orchestral music (even pieces for children); since 1988, besides “earthier” music, a special focus has been on sacred works: “Gloria Patri” (1988), motets, “Magnificat”, masses, etc.
“Pro Patria”, commissioned especially by the Estonian Defence Forces Orchestra, was composed in 2003. The oratorial work based on texts of Estonian poet Jaan Lõo (1872–1939) tells about Estonians’ war history.
Download: Urmas Sisask. Pro Patria, fragm, 126 sec, mp3, 1971 KB

Glasperlenspiel Club

Fri 18th July at 10 pm
SUMMER NIGHT OF SAXOPHONES: Raivo Tafenau Band, co-improvisers Rein Kilk & Peeter Vähi

Sat 19th July at 9 pm
Ensemble INDIGOLAPSED

Mon 21st July at 8 pm
A Conrad Rooks film “SIDDHARTHA” (82 min) based on the book by Hermann Hesse. Introduction by Jaan Kaplinski

Thu 24th July at 6 pm
HERITAGE SOCIETY NIGHT: Mati Strauss and Tanel Moora speak about the War of Independence and monuments

Fri 25th July at 8 pm
JOURNEY ALONG THE SILK ROAD – Peeter Vähi and Tiina Jokinen speak about their travel and experience on the Great Silk Road and show videomaterials from the same trip
 

Special offers in the menu during the Glasperlenspiel Festival:
Cosi fan tutte (a coffee drink and a cake)
Sonata da camere (elk steak + housewine + coffee drink)
Concerto grosso (elk steak + housewine + coffee drink + cake)

The photo exhibitions “Silk Road” and “Jaan Poska & Tartu peace Treaty” decorate the walls of the club during the festival
Slide show “Glasperlespiel Performers Through The Years”

Ülikooli str 20, Tartu, phone (+372) 7 375402, www.kohvik.ut.ee

Download: video-clip, 20 sec, wmv, 3045 KB
Download: audio-clip, 20 sec, mp3, 312 KB

CD “Glasperlenspiel 2008”
Not for sale
For promotional use only