● Sun, March 29th at 5 pm, St. John’s church (Jaani kirik), Tallinn
Palm Sunday Concert
MOZART. REQUIEM – in special chamber edition
Elina Nechayeva (soprano), Aule Urb (mezzo soprano, Estonian National Opera), Anto Õnnis (tenor), Alvar Tiisler (bass), Piret Aidulo (organ), Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta (concert master Arvo Leibur), conductor Andres Mustonen
Buy ticket from Piletilevi
I Requiem aeternam. Kyrie
II Dies irae
III Tuba mirum
IV Rex tremendae
V Recordare
VI Confutatis
VII Lacrimosa
VIII Domine Jesu
IX Hostias
X Sanctus
XI Benedictus
XII Agnus Dei. Lux aeterna. Requiem aeternam
MAIN PROGRAMME IN TARTU ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, JULY 9th–14th, 2026
● Thu, July 9th at 7 pm, St. John’s church (Jaani Street 5, Tartu)
OPENING CONCERT
Vytautas Kiminius (birbynė, Lithuania), Martin Kuuskmann (bassoon, Estonia/USA), Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, conductor Kristiina Poska
Mozart, Vähi, Pärt
● Fri, July 10th at 12 at noon (free entrance)
Ulla Krigul
Bach
● Fri, July 10th at 9 pm
MARIE ANTOINETTE & HARP
Elisabeth Plank (harp, Austria)
Marie Antoinette, F. Petrini, A.-M. Krumpholtz, J. L. Dussek, J. B. Krumpholtz, S.-F. de Genlis, Ph. J. Hinner
Marie Antoinette is known as the queen of France, a victim of the French Revolution, or an influential fashionista. But Marie Antoinette was also an important patron of the arts, a passionate harpist herself – and she turned Paris into a center for the harp. Works for harp by virtuosos of the era invite you to immerse yourself in the world of the 18th-century French court to discover fashionable genres and the musical side of Marie Antoinette.
Elisabeth Plank, a well-known Austrian harpist, combines contrasts into a homogenous, brilliant sound experience in her one-of-a-kind performances. Plank has established herself as an internationally sought-after soloist and ambassador for her instrument. She presents the harp as a versatile and exciting instrument: rich in colors and textures, with its unusual repertoire and a broad stylistic spectrum. Plank’s ambition to sharpen and broaden the harp’s profile has added musical rediscoveries and new compositions dedicated to her to the harp’s repertoire, as well as many world premiere recordings. It is her ambition to redefine the harp’s repertoire, by performing and recording newly rediscovered pieces from the past, as well as collaborating with contemporary composers. Additionally she is an advocate of the historical double action harp. Her own arrangements have been published by Universal Edition and others.
As a recitalist or as a soloist with orchestra, Elisabeth Plank has performed in renowned concert halls and festivals in Europe, Japan and Latin America, such as Musikverein Wien, Wiener Konzerthaus, Harpa Reykjavík, Konzerthaus Berlin, Grafenegg and NOSPR, as well as international festivals like MDR Musiksommer, moselmusikfestival, Bogotá International Music Festival and Festival de Música de Morelia Mexico. The harpist performs with orchestras such as ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, Barockensemble der Wiener Symphoniker, Wiener KammerOrchester, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Iasi Philharmonic Orchestra and Thüringer Symphoniker.
Elisabeth Plank is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions and was honored with the Young Celebrity Master award of HarpMasters. From 2019 to 2021, Elisabeth Plank has been artist-in-residence of Wiener Konzerthaus as part of the Great Talent series. Besides being an selected artist for Classical Futures Europe, Elisabeth Plank has been chosen as musical ambassador for the New Austrian Sound of Music for 2023 and 2024 as first harpist ever. Elisabeth Planks versatility also shows in her discography: L‘arpa notturna, 1825 – Echoes of Vienna on Historical Harp and musings. In 2023, she recorded Mozart’s double concerto with ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien under the baton of Howard Griffiths for Alpha Classics.
Elisabeth Plank was born in Vienna in 1991, and had her first lesson at the age of seven. She studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna under the tuition of Adelheid Blovsky-Miller and Mirjam Schröder. In further studies she worked with Fabrice Pierre in Brescia. The harpist teaches as a lecturer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and at international masterclasses and workshops, and is founder and artistic director of Vienna Harp Days.
● Sat, July 11th at 7 pm
Havryl Sydoryk (piano and harpsichord, Ukraine / Estonia)
● Sat, July 11th at 10 pm
PATH OF MANTRA
Martin Kuuskmann (bassoon, dung-chen, Estonia/USA) & Peeter Vähi (keyboards. percussion)
traditional, Vähi, Cage
● Sun, July 12th at 11 am (free entrance)
CONCERT-LITURGY
Triin Käpp (parson), mixed choir of Tartu University St. John’s Congregation, Kaisa Kuslapuu (organ, conductor)
● Sun, July 12th at 9 pm
SETU FANTASY
Setu Folk Ensemble, chamber choir Collegium Musicale, conductor Endrik Üksvärav
Lill (premiere)
● Mon, July 13th at 7 pm
HYPOCONDRIE
European Union Baroque Orchestra, Alfredo Bernardini (oboe, artistic director)
Lully, Corelli, Vivaldi, Telemann, Muffat, Zelenka
● Tue, July 14th at 7 pm
MISSA VOTIVA
Chamber choir Moran Singers (Israel), ensemble Hortus Musicus, conductor Andres Mustonen
Jan Dismis Zelenka, Tomas Louis de Victoria
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, Tarrvi Laamann and Mirjam Hinn. This time, music will be captured on the canvas again… by XXX’s brushstrokes.
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, St John’s church, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, volunteers
Next Glasperlenspiel: July 8th – 13th, 2027
Previous festivals: 2025, 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