Glass Bead Game in Palmse

14/11/2020 - 14/08/2021

Palmse Manor

MUSICAL PEARLS ON THE ISLAND
June 23, 2020
Klaaspärlid Palmses
October 8, 2020

Concert series GLASS BEAD GAME IN PALMSE
Saturday night in Palmse manor, Lääne-Viru county, Estonia

Palmse Manor is one of the greatest Baroque mansions in Estonia. The mansion and open-air museum were the first fully restored manor complex in the country. They are surrounded by the beautiful natural environment of Lahemaa National Park and provide an overview of Estonian manor life and architecture throughout the ages. The open-air museum boasts parks, gardens and historical buildings and features exhibitions, workshops, a Palm House, a wine cellar, a romantic café and a tavern serving national dishes.

Sat, Nov 14th, 2020 at 7 pm
THE FOUR SEASONS
Kremerata Baltica & Daniil Bulayev (violin, Latvia)
Vivaldi, Golijov, Enescu, Vähi

The brand new concert series Glass Bead Game in Palmse, created in collaboration between Palmse Manor and the Tartu-based festival Glasperlenspiel, makes a remarkable opening by presenting to the audience one of the most outstanding international European music collectives Kremerata Baltica (artistic director Gidon Kremer). The Kremerata’s extraordinary artistic level is proved by the New York Times, Grammy Award, numerous recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and ECM as well as stage partners like Martha Argerich, Evgeni Kissin, Vadim Repin, Yo-Yo Ma, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Christoph Eschenbach, Kent Nagano, Sir Simon Rattle etc. The energetic and joyful timeless music of Antonio Vivaldi, a true master of the Baroque era, will be performed in the beautiful Palmse Manor house with a long and rich history.

Daniil Bulayev, 16 years old, is currently studying with Nelli Sarkisyan in Riga and with Petru Munteanu in Germany. Daniil made his debut as a soloist with chamber orchestra in Riga at the age of five (!). Two years later, when he performed with the Symphony Orchestra in Russia. At the age of 8 Daniil gave his first recital at the Concert Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Since 2013 he annually gives his violin recitals. Daniil has performed with the Moscow Virtuosi, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, Sinfonietta Riga, Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Archi De Sono, Mitteleuropa Orchestra, Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Youth Chamber Orchestra, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Opera Orchestra, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Armenian National Symphony Orchestra, Macao Orchestra. He has performed regularly as a soloist in numerous festivals in Latvia, Lithuania, Argentina, Belgium, Armenia, Switzerland, Italy, Macao, China.

Vivladi. The Four Seasons, Winter. Kremerata Baltica. Live, fragment, 3 min 6 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps


Sat, Dec 12th, 2020 at 7 pm
ENTER DENTER
Kristjan Randalu & Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta
Mozart, Naissoo, Tamberg, Vinter, Kikerpuu, folk tune

   

The second concert of the concert series Glass Bead Game in Palmse presents pianist Kristjan Randalu’s humorous and lively programme Enter Denter, inspired by the legendary TV-show Entel-Tentel, which is familiar and loved by many. Well-known children’s songs in Randalu’s witty improvisational arrangement will undoubtedly bring positive and uplifting emotions into the dark autumn season. Kristjan Randalu is one of the most internationally known Estonian pianists, performing all over the world in both the classical music and jazz genres, being an artist at countless festivals and the winner of many awards. His discography includes 27 CDs and DVDs. The partner of the pianist at the concert will be the Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta (music director and chief conductor Andres Mustonen), which as a collective is always open to new exciting projects and shares a common belief that music making should bring joy and pleasure to the audience, and can invigorate souls and minds regardless of style.

Estonian folk tune Igaühel oma pill, arranged and performed by Kristjan Randalu, live, fragment, 3 min 17 sec, mp3

 

Sat, Jan 9th, 2021 at 7 pm
OLD-RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS MUSIC
Orthodox Singers
Count Sheremetev, Greek and Syrian chants, anonymous, Christmas song, chants from Valaamo and Optina Pustyn monasteries, Nectarios of Aegina, Early-Russian polyphony

With the first concert of the new year in Palmse manor, the concert series Glass Bead Game in Palmse pays homage to the musical traditions of Russian Christmas, providing an excellent opportunity for the Estonian Russian community as well as for other listeners to experience the true musical pearls of Russian music culture. Beautiful Christmas songs are performed by the ensemble Orthodox Singers, which consists of professional musicians. The ensemble’s repertoire includes both early and modern Orthodox music. The ensemble’s performances are characterized by the complete immersion in every word of the scriptures, impeccable vocal technique, well thought-out dynamical plan and extraordinary sense of style. In 2020, the artistic director of Orthodox Singers, Valeri Petrov, was awarded the annual prize of the Estonian Cultural Endowment for the artistic direction of the ensemble and the leadership of the Mustvee Sacred Music Festival.

Orthodox Singers, live, fragment, 3 min 50 sec, mp3, 320 Kbps

 

Sat, Feb 13th, 2021 at 7 pm
CASTILLO INTERIOR (‘The Inner Castle’)
Balanas Sisters
Ravel, Handel, Vasks, Glière

Balanas Sisters, as a new jewel of the concert series Glass Bead Game in Palmse, started last autumn, will perform in the Palmse Manor on the second Saturday of February, delighting the audience with beautiful chamber music. Latvian sisters Kristīne and Margarita Balanas have quickly earned international acclaim, both as soloists and as a duo, and have received attention and praise from music critics for their revolutionary ideas and new approach to classical music. Balanas Sisters has enchanted audiences in such world-famous concert halls as Carnegie Hall, Laeiszhalle, Walt Disney Hall and Berliner Philharmonie, the list of sisters’ partners is impressive as well: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Trevor Pinnock, Murray Perahia and many others.
The duo’s romantic Palmse concert programme includes hints of both Baroque music and impressionism. In addition to that, a thoughtful and suggestive Pēteris Vasks’ work Castillo interior, dedicated to St Teresa of Ávila, will be performed.
Enjoy video: Händel-Halvorsen Passacaglia in G minor, Balanas Sisters. See also: Kristīne Balanas at Glasperlenspiel Festival.

 

Sat, Mar 13th, 2021 at 7 pm
Peep Lassmann (piano), Heigo Rosin (percussion)
Ravel, Messiaen, Abe, Andriessen, Muramatsu, Põldmäe, Balázs

Cancelled or postponed because of COVID!

The March concert of the series „Glass Bead Game in Palmse“ invites the audience to a nature-themed journey, encouraging listeners to take time off and notice the beauty around them and inside themselves. In the first half, Peep Lassmann, a renowned Estonian pianist and acclaimed interpreter of Messaien with remarkable ornithological knowledge will perform virtuoso and colourful portraits of birds from the French composer’s famous cycle „Catalogue d’Oiseaux“. A mystical and philosophical piano cycle „Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus“ by the same composer will direct the audience to the meditative paths.

    

Heigo Rosin is the first solo percussionist to emerge out of Estonia. Despite his young age he has appeared frequently as a soloist with numerous symphony and chamber orchestras. There are a growing number of compositions being especially written for Heigo. In 2016, Heigo was also selected as principal percussionist with full scholarship to the World Percussion Group tour in the USA.
He completed his studies (Bachelor and Masters degree) at Eastonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2014. Simultaneously Heigo studied in the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp and earned his second Bachelor and Masters degree with a distinction in Prof Carlo Willems’ and Prof Koen Wilmaers’ percussion classes. Since 2014, Heigo has been studying at the Royal Academy of Music Aarhus / Aalborg in Prof Henrik Knarborg Larsen’s percussion class to earn a soloist diploma. During his years of studies Heigo has participated in numerous master classes of teachers and educators from all over the world including She-E Wu, Pius Cheung, Emmanuel Séjourné, Mark Ford, David Friedman, Hakim Ludin, and Pedro Carneiro. He has also participated in the drum clinics of Dave Weckl and Sheila E. In addition to that Heigo has had personal percussion sessions with the world famous solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. Additional honors awarded to Heigo through various national and international competitions include 1st Prize at the Contemporary Music Competition De Linkprijs in the Netherlands (2013), 1st Prize at the Yamaha Scholarship Competition for Percussion (2013), 2nd Prize through the Estonian Academy of Music, Classic Radio prizes at the Estonian TV competition Classical Stars and 1st Prize at the Estonian National Competition for Winds and Percussion in Tallinn.
Heigo’s performances are hypnotizing and his choice of program content is unique. The way he breathes life into the rhythms in the music is enrapturing and the melodies and harmonies are mesmerizing; his performances carry audiences to other worlds. On the stage, his presence is fluid and versatile; sometimes an angel, who comforts, protects and brings blessings, sometimes a demon that shadows the whole hall with darkness. While performing he likes to play with emotions and energy, establishing a deep connection with the music he plays. Over ten years of karate practice has inspired Heigo to combine the movements of karate with his percussion playing. This unique aspect of his playing has given Heigo the nickname “Percussion Athlete” and makes his performances extraordinary not only to hear but to see.

 

Sat, April 10th, 2021 at 7 pm
LIVING AND BREATHING
Kädy Plaas (soprano), Maria Valdmaa (soprano), Imbi Tarum (harpsichord)
Programme: Handel, Monteverdi, Haydn

Soprano Maria Valdmaa has received international acclaim as a performer of both early and contemporary music. She appears regularly with some of Europe’s foremost ensembles, as well as in the USA and Asia. Maria began her vocal studies at the Georg Ots Music School in Tallinn, and continued at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague with Rita Dams and Barbara Pearson. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Early Music and Historical Performance Practice there, under the supervision of Jill Feldman, Michael Chance and Peter Kooji. Maria has also participated in several masterclasses and deepened her knowledge of sixteenth and seventeenth-century repertoire with Andrés Locatelli and Fabio Bonizzoni. Maria has won prizes at several Baroque singing competitions, including second prize at the Premia Fatima Terzo competition in Italy (2013) and the second prize and audience prize at the Handel Singing Competition in London (2014).
Maria is frequently engaged as a soloist for the large-scale works of the Baroque era, including Bach’s St John Passion, St Matthew Passion and several cantatas; Mozart’s Requiem, Monteverdi’s Vespers, Handel’s Israel in EgyptSemeleAlexander’s Feast and others. In the field of contemporary music, Maria is particularly noted as an interpreter of the music of Arvo Pärt, most recently performing as a soloist in Adam’s Passion at Berlin’s Konzerthaus with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Tõnu Kaljuste, with whom she enjoys a close collaboration. Maria has also worked with distinguished conductors including John Butt, Kaspars Putniņš, Thomas Zehetmair, Lars Ulrik Mortensen and Andres Mustonen. Maria has performed as a soloist with many leading orchestras and choirs, including the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Concerto Copenhagen and Dutch Radio Choir. As a consort singer, she has worked with with ensembles including Il Gardellino, Dunedin Consort, Vox Luminis, Nederlandse Bachvereniging, Collegium 1704 and Huelgas Ensemble.

  

Imbi Tarum (harpsichord), L’Incertaine, fragment, 1 min 30 sec, mp3


During the concert, a live-painting by Anna Litvinova will be completed, and an art auction will take place after the concert.