MAIN PROGRAMME IN TARTU ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, JULY 8th–13th, 2027 *

● Thu, July 8th at 7 pm, St. John’s church (Jaani Street 5, Tartu)
OPENING CONCERT – VIOLET WINDS
Dedicated to the 90th birthday of Maestro Neeme Järvi
Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, Soo-Young Lee (basset clarinet, Korea), Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, conductor Kasper Joel Nõgene
Mozart, Feklina (première), Vähi

The dedication to Neeme Järvi’s birthday is no coincidence. And the reason is not only the extremely friendly personal relations of the festival organisers with the Maestro. Namely, Neeme Järvi has conducted the opening concerts of the Glasperlenspiel on two occasions in the current decade alone, the programme of this concert is partly composed by him, the clarinet soloist Soo-Young Lee is his choice, and it is not insignificant that today’s conductor Kasper Joel Nõgene has honed his conducting skills under the guidance of the Maestro.

● Fri, July 9th at 7 pm
LA PAZZIA SENILE / THE CRAZY OLD FOOL
Helen Lokuta – (mezzo) soprano (Estonian National Opera), Triin Ella – alto (Estonian National Opera), Hortus Musicus, artistic director Andres Mustonen
Adriano Banchieri

● Fri, July 9th at 21.30
SENASE TRIO (Colombia)

The Senase Trio is a musical group formed by three Colombian-born siblings: Natalia Castrillón (lever harp and vocals), Sebastián Castrillón (cello and vocals), and Sergio Castrillón (modified cello and vocals). They play original compositions that blend classical music and South American roots with meditative tranquility and experimental improvisations.

● Sat, July 10th at 7 pm
BEETHOVEN – 200†
Wiener Kammersinfonie
Beethoven, Sibelius, Korngold

Wiener Kammersymphonie (Vienna Chamber Symphony) is an ensemble composed of highly talented musicians performing in Vienna. The WKS usually performs as a string quintet. The ensemble was founded in March 2006 in the “Year of Mozart”…

● Sat, July 10th at 10 pm
To be announced soon

● Sun, July 11th at 11 am (free entry)
CONCERT-LITURGY
Triin Käpp and Naatan Haamer (parsons), mixed choir Cantate Domino, Kaisa Kuslapuu (organ, conductor)

● Sun, July 11th at 7 pm
中国圆号重奏团 CHINA HORN ORCHESTRA, artistic director Yi Man
Chinese traditional and Western classical music

● Mon, July 12th at 7 pm
NIETZSCHE CONTRA WAGNER
Tähe-Lee Liiv (piano)
Nietzsche, Wagner, Beethoven, Schumann

If we were to draw an imaginary circle around the city-centre of Tartu, less than a kilometre in diameter, it would include  so-called “Spirit of Tartu”, St. John’s Church, the roots of Hermann Hesse, the Glasperlenspiel Music Festival, Friedrich Nietzsche, Richard Wagner…

● Mon, July 12th at 9.30
ANTIPODES 1685
Indrek Leivategija (cello), Elena Klionsky (piano, USA)
Bach, Scarlatti

● Tue, July 13th at 7 pm
To be announced soon

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. In previous years, the painters have been Liis Koger, Heleliis Hõim, Mark Kostabi, Anna Litvinova, Tarrvi Laamann, Mirjam Hinn, and Navitrolla. Let’s see through whose brushstrokes the opuses performed at the concerts and the magical vibrations they create will be captured this time… In any case, the paintings will remain as an exhibition on the walls of the church until the end of July, but those who wish, can acquire the painting of their choice at the auction at the end of the festival.
ERP’s only collaboration with Robin Nõgisto, who was still young at the time, took place about a dozen years ago, when he participated in the production of the DVD In the Mystical Land of Kaydara as a video artist, but this time in a completely new context.
Robin Nõgisto is one of the most unique artists of his generation on the Estonian contemporary art scene. Nõgisto, who graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2017, manages to stay in balance on the narrow border between institutional and subculture with the skill of a tightrope walker. His unique pop-psychedelic style is unmistakably recognizable – detailed compositions, often in neon tones, where symbols of pop art are intertwined with nightmarish figures as if from another world. Beneath the iridescent layer of surface, one can sometimes sense a social critique that condemns immoderate global consumption. In addition to canvases, the artist’s trademark has become monumental murals, as well as activities in the sphere of video art, which are characterised by a certain rock-like or even punk-like power. All in all, Robin Nõgisto is a top professional with the image of a “bad boy”, who has been embraced by puritanical art critics, museum collections and contemporary pop art freaks alike.
Nõgisto has been nominated for the AkzoNobel Art Prize three times and in 2024 he received this coveted award. Her solo exhibition in Paris was selected for the 2024 Olympic Games’ cultural programme Olympiade Culturelle.

* At this time, the festival organizers reserve the right to make changes to the festival program and the list of performers. A more precise and detailed program will be published in January 2027.

Festival passes will be available at Piletilevi from October 19th, 2026

A retsospective look at last festival

Organizers:
Peeter Vähi – artistic director
Tiina Jokinen – executive director
Kadri Kiis – producer, accountant
Kaidi Ugandi – manager of Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta
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, Heino Eller Music College, Kadri Leivategija, Tiina Kangro, Madis Metsis, Tõnis Tamm, Joel Oistrat, Priit Reiman, Thomas Trickner, Aale Lember, Ye Pan, Canon and Overall, St John’s church, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, volunteers

Previous festivals: 2026, 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