25 - 28 June 2020

Johan Randvere

Programme: Tchaikovsky

Johan Randvere is the Sunshine Boy of Estonian pianism. He always has a friendly smile and a good word for everyone.  The concert stage is his most natural environment, and he represents this rare and especially beloved type of musician, by also willing to share his musical passion in concerts verbally. The classical piano night – the most immediate, honest and sincere form of the concert – brings to the listener Tchaikovsky’s piano music in all its sensitivity, power and fragility.

Soloists of St. Petersburg Chamber Opera:
Valentina Fedenyova (soprano)
Alexei Pashiyev (baritone)
Yelizaveta Aleksandrova (harp)

Programme: Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Puccini

Soloists of St. Petersburg Chamber Opera Valentina Fedenyova and Alexei Pashijev have won awards at various international competitions, have been singing leading roles in Russian and foreign opera theaters, have abundantly participated in performances of large forms and have given solo concerts. At the Tchaikovsky Festival, they will perform a program with the arias and romances of 19th century Russian and Italian composers. The program is united into the whole by the harp – a grandiose instrument that cannot be encountered on our stages too often, especially the position of a soloist, but when we think about Tchaikovsky’s symphonies and especially ballets, the powerful and at the same time unspeakably gentle harp passages are the ones that immediately come to our minds.

Evelin Samuel-Randvere (vocal)
Marten Altrov (clarinet)
Johan Randvere (piano)

Concluding the first day of the Festival – Evelin, Marten and Johan will compose a programme of romantic vibrationas and bright, summery colours. Extracts from “The Seasons” by Tchaikovsky will be presented in the arrangement by Johan Randvere.

Programme: Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Chopin

The young virtuosos, known as winners of the TV competition “Classical Stars,” have done great deeds in world competition and concert stages in recent years. At the Haapsalu Tchaikovsky Festival, they will treat the audience to a sensuous chamber music program.

Estonian National Male Choir, conductor Mikk Üleoja

Programme: Tchaikovsky, Sviridov, Kreek, Kõrvits

Next season, the Estonian National Male Choir, one of the flagships of Estonian music will be celebrating its 75th birthday!  The National Male Choir has won all kinds of recognition during its activities, and they culminated with winning of the Estonian Grammy. The inspiring concert programs of the Male Choir have risen to a new level under the guidance of the current creative director and chief conductor Mikk Üleoja. In Haapsalu, the National Male Choir will perform Russian choral music, and the works of so-called famous residents of Haapsalu – Tchaikovsky, and Kreek – will also be performed.

Tamar Nugis (baritone)
Ilana Lode (piano)
Kärt Tammjärv (texts)

The concert brings to the audience a charming alloy of Russian romance and poetry. The alternating moods of Russian romance and the rich sensitivity of the Russian soul are brought to the listener by baritone Tamar Nugis with his creative partners. Music will be complemented by the creation of Russian poets in both Estonian and Russian.

Soloist Vardan Harutunyan (duduk)
Artistic director and conductor Sergei Polyanitshko

Programme: Tchaikovsky, Bach, Rossini et al

In 1751, it was decided to create a birthday surprise for the Russian Empress Yelizaveta Petrovna, and an ensemble with two dozen hunting horns was set up to play during the rest breaks of the Empress’s favorite recreation, hunting. The Empress and her companions were fascinated by the sound of the horns, and several horn orchestras were immediately formed in the court. Special music was created for them that was performed to celebrate court events. Such a way of making music was very expensive – one person played only one pitch, and the collusion requires a very high level of technical mastery. The Russian Academic Horn Capella was created in 2006 by Sergei Polyanitshko, and their fleet of handmade instruments have now grown to 106 horns, with 17 young Russian musicians playing. The Capella performs the court music of the past, as well as the arrangements of all kinds of works of classical music. All instruments are made by the instrument maker Vladimir Goloveshko.

Capella Cracoviensis (Poland)
Conductor Jan Tomasz Adamus

Programme:
Engel. Symphony in G major
Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C major Op. 48, Elegie G major for Strings
Mozart. Symphony No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”)

Capella Cracoviensis is a unique orchestra that stands out for its non-standard activities – all Beethoven’s symphonies in one day, madrigal comedies in dairy bars, social music projects in collaboration with the hearing impaired and visually impaired, Mozart’s karaoke concerts and more. However, in Haapsalu Cathedral, we will hear just the delightful sound culture and nuanced music making. Tchaikovsky’s well-known string serenade and Mozart’s “Jupiter” symphony will be performed, which has been cited as “The Best Symphonic Composition Composed before the French Revolution” (Sir George Grove).

In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland

Kruglov-Sooäär Quartet (Russia-Estonia)
Aleksei Kruglov (saxophones), Jaak Sooäär (guitar), Mihkel Mälgand (double bass), Tanel Ruben (percussion)

Adventures on the paths of Russian classical music

Saxophonist Alexei Kruglov is one of the best-known jazz musicians in Moscow, and he has joined forces with Estonian leading jazz musicians Jaak Sooäär, Mihkel Mälgand, and Tanel Ruben. They started with an interpretation of Russian music with the masterpieces of the 19th-century, the members of the group of Russian composers “Mighty Handful,” Mussorgsky, Rimski-Korsakov, Borodin and Balakirev, and are now going to continue with the music by Tchaikovsky. “The melodies, harmonies, and forms of the well-known works of Russian music are very inspiring material for jazz improvisation.” (Jaak Sooäär)

Tallinn Ballet School
East Dance School
Triinu Piirsalu (violin), Maria Mutso (cello), Sten Heinoja (piano)
Artistic directors Kaie Kõrb and Alla Lilleorg

On the last day of the festival, we will offer a joint ballet gala performed by Tallinn Ballet School and East Dance School, which has been put together by Kaie Kõrb and Alla Lilleorg. You will be able to see timeless pieces from both Tchaikovsky and other classical ballets; accompanying music is provided by students of Tallinn Music High School.

By Urmas Lennuk
Director Eili Neuhaus
Artist Irina Marjapuu

Featuring: Actors from Rakvere Theater Ülle Lichtfeldt, Eduard Salmistu and Madis Mäeorg and Margareth Villers

The performance focuses on the famous Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky. His creative burning, constant self-search, painful contradictions in his time and his frantic passion for music and creation – it’s inspiring in every era. In this a little bit Chekhov style love story there can be found comic elements, great feelings, human longing, and tragic pain.

The performance is in two shows, lasting two and a half hours.