JUBILATE
Glasperlenspiel Music Festival – 30, Märt-Matis Lill – 50, Peeter Vähi – 70, Arvo Pärt – 90, Johann Strauss II – 200
Glasperlenspiel Music Festival presents:
● Fri, June 20th, 2025 at 7 pm
Jämaja church, Kingdom of Torgu, Saaremaa island, Estonia
MYSTICAL UNITING
Canadian guitar virtuoso Rémi Boucher and composer Peeter Vähi will hold a joint celebration on stage to mark their 30 years of musical friendship and collaboration. They will be offered musical support by acclaimed artists Heili Rosin-Leivategija (flute) and Marie-Helen Aavakivi (violin). This, however, is not all – with Peeter Vähi there will always be more exotic instruments (tānpūrā) at play. Already the name of the concert „Mystical Uniting“, after one of the pieces in the program, can be considered a subtle hint. Other composers featured in the program are Boucher, Lecuona and Rodrigo with his famous „Concierto de Aranjuez”.
Tickets are available from Piletilevi. For Plus-pass, click here.
MAIN PROGRAMME IN TARTU, JULY 10th–15th, 2025
● Thu, July 10th at 7 pm, St. John’s church (Jaani Street 5, Tartu)
OPENING CONCERT
Hans Christian Aavik (violin), Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, conductor Kristiina Poska
Mozart, Haydn, Hallik (premiere), Rääts
● Fri, July 11th at noon (12), St. John’s church (free entrance)
NOON MUSIC HOUR
MINI CONCERT AND QUIZ
Johan Randvere, Margus Saar, CDs as a prize
● Fri, July 11th at 7 pm, St. John’s church
MISSA VOTIVA
Tom Ben Ishai – soprano, Sharon Yelin – alto, Omri Aizenbud – tenor, Noam Perl Treves – tenor, Alvar Tiisler – bass-baritone, Baroque orchestra Barrocade, Moran Singers (Israel), conductor Andres Mustonen
Jan Dismis Zelenka, Tomas Louis de Victoria
● Sat, July 12th at 7 pm, St. John’s church
STRAUSS & STRAUSS
Wiener Kammersymphonie (Austria)
Johann Strauss junior, Johann Strauss senior, Josef Strauss – 200, Richard Strauss (Le bourgeois gentilhomme)
● Sat, July 12th at 10 pm, St. John’s church
NORDIC JOURNEY
James D. Hicks (USA), organ
Arrangements of folk songs, arrangement of Oscar Peterson, Gade, Isólfsson, Ore, Willscher, Leifs, Mikkelsen, Sixten, Takle
● Sun, July 13th at 11 am, St. John’s church (free entrance)
MASS WITH CHANTS OF ST. BRIDGET MONASTERY
Triin Käpp (parson), ensemble Heinavanker, conductor and music director Margo Kõlar
Kõlar, Estonian sacred folk songs
● Sun, July 13th at 9 pm, St. John’s church
MYSTICAL UNITING
Rémi Boucher (guitar, Canada) & Peeter Vähi (composer, tānpūrā). Guest performers Heili Rosin-Leivategija (flute) and Marie-Helen Aavakivi (violin).
Programme: Rodrigo, Vähi, Boucher, Lecuona… including Concierto de Aranjuez and Mystical Uniting.
● Mon, July 14th at 7 pm, St. John’s church
RAIN IN THE PINE FOREST
Trio Hans Christian Aavik – Triinu Piirsalu – Karolina Aavik
Bach, Märt-Matis Lill – 50 (La pioggia nel pineto, premiere), Milhaud, Kõrvits, Rääts
● Tue, July 15th at 7 pm, St. John’s church
DANCING THROUGH…
Elza Siliņa (violin), Kremerata Baltica (concertmaster Džeraldas Bidva, artistic director Gidon Kremer)
Mendelssohn, Pärt, Vähi (“Dancing through Afterlife”, premiere), Vasks
It has already become a tradition that live-painting takes place at the Glasperlenspiel concerts, and during the festival week, the initial blank white canvases are transformed into artworks, that will decorate the church walls until the end of July. Later, those who wish will be able to acquire the paintings. In previous years, the painters have been Liis Koger, Heleliis Hõim, Mark Kostabi, Anna Litvinova and Mirjam Hinn. This time, music will be captured on the canvas by Tarrvi Laamann’s brushstrokes.
Past events
● Festival Glasperlenspiel presents:
Sun, April 13th, 2025 at 5 pm
St. John’s church (Jaani kirik, address: Vabaduse square 1, Tallinn)
Palm Sunday concert
MOZART. REQUIEM – in special chamber edition
Elina Nechayeva – soprano, Aule Urb – alto, Anto Õnnis – tenor, Alvar Tiisler – bass, Piret Aidulo – organ
Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta (concert master Mari-Liis Uibo), conductor Andres Mustonen
More detailed info.
Organizers:
Peeter Vähi – artistic director
Tiina Jokinen – executive director
Kadri Kiis – producer, accountant
Kaidi Ugandi – manager of Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta
Meeta Vardja – musicologist, editor of festival booklet
Mart Kivisild – design
Olavi Sööt – co-producer, video, logistics
Reno Hekkonens – marketing director, PR
Johannes Vähi – co-producer, webmaster, sound engineering, logistics
Rebeca Birk – social media
Special thanks: Tartu City Government, Urmas Klaas, Triin Käpp, Jana Raud, Ministry of Culture of Estonia, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Canon and Overall, Toyota, St John’s church, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, volunteers
Previous festivals: 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015; 2014; 2013; 2012; 2011; 2010; 2009; 2008; 2007; 2006; 2005; Archives: Glasperlenspiel 2003 and 2004