28 - 30 June 2018

St. Petersburg State Capella Choir
Conductor Vladislav Chernushenko

Programme:
Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Sviridov

The St. Petersburg State Capella Choir has a special place in the Russian music scene. The Cappella, which
was founded at the same as the city of Saint Petersburg itself, is the foundation of professional Russian musical
groups. The large mixed choir represents the powerful Russian choral tradition. The conductor of the choir,
Vladislav Chernushenko, who is the People’s Artist of Russia and the laureate of numerous prizes, has earned both the love of his home audience and international recognition. In Haapsalu, the choir performs classical pieces from Russian choral music, singing choral works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Sviridov.

Priit Volmer (bass, Estonian National Opera), René Soom (baritone, Estonian National Opera), Jaanika Rand-Sirp (piano)

Priit Volmer and René Soom are multi-talented artists. They are loved by the audiences as excellent opera
singers on the stage of the National Opera, but they have also participated in drama performances of the Theatre Varius. At Haapsalu Tchaikovsky Festival, the artists combine their talents and skills both as singers and actors. The result is worth experiencing – a captivating mix of Russian music and poetry.

Performances by this year’s finalists:
Tanel-Eiko Novikov (percussion)
Ingely Laiv (oboe)
Johannes Põlda (violinl)
Kaspar-Oskar Kramp (trombone)
Sven-Sander Šestakov (piano)
Kristiina Rokashevich (piano, the finalist of „Stars of Classical Music 2016“)

The finalists from the popular TV contest ‘Stars of Classical Music’, which introduces young musicians and
classical music, perform the music that was heard on the show this season as well as the pieces that were left out due to a lack of time. We get a chance to meet the young musicians and enjoy their performances in more detail than possible during a TV.

Programme:
Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff

Peeter Laul is one of the best-known contemporary Estonian pianists on the world stages. He is the laureate of
several international contests and has, among others, won the first prize at the Scriabin Piano Competition in
Moscow. Laul is an active concert pianist, ensemble pianist, and a lecturer at the Saint Petersburg State
Conservatory. At his solo concert in the historic festive hall of the Läänemaa Gymnasium, he will perform
romantic Russian piano music, for the performance of which, Peeter Laul has deserved special recognition.
The concert also features the signature piece of the Tchaikovsky Festival, „The Memories from Haapsalu“.

Soloists of the International Ballet Troupe of Vanemuine Theatre
Director Mare Tommingas

Programme:
Extracts from Tchaikovsky’s ballets „The Sleeping Beauty“, „Eugene Onegin“, „The Swan Lake“

Just as the timeless ballets by Tchaikovsky are the cornerstone of every ballet theatre, a Tchaikovsky ballet
gala is the dream of every ballet lover. Soloists of the International Ballet Troupe of Vanemuine Theatre star on
the open-air stage of the Haapsalu Bishop’s Castle, accompanied by the students of Vanemuine Dance and
Ballet School. It is bound to be a magical ballet night full of emotions, passion, and stunning beauty.

Programme:
Tchaikovsky. “The Seasons” Op. 37b (“May”, “June”, “July”)
Tchaikovsky. “Souvenir de Florence” op. 70

The Northwest Symphony Orchestra of Saint Petersburg

Tchaikovsky’s music for strings is powerful, touching, and full of romantic emotions. The central work of the
evening is Souvenir de Florence, one of the most beautiful pieces of Tchaikovsky, composed after his memorable visit to Florence. The orchestra features the best representatives of the famous Russian string tradition from the spectacular music scene of Saint Petersburg. Haapsalu Dome Church with its unique acoustics offers a special treat to music lovers.

The Northwest Symphony Orchestra of Saint Petersburg
Peeter Laul (piano), Jelizaveta Soina (soprano, Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow),
Andrei Breus (baritone, Moscow Bolshoi Theatre), Lev Klychkov (violin)
Conductor Gennadi Chernov

Programme:
Piotr Tchaikovsky. The Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, op. 23
Fragments from „The Sleeping Beauty“, „The Swan Lake“, „Eugene Onegin“, Overture „The Year 1812“ op.49

The festive gala evening brings you the audience’s favourites. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 is an iconic work that delights both the listeners who rarely visit concerts and the dedicated audiences, not to mention the
musicians themselves. It is always special to hear Tchaikovsky performed by a Russian orchestra. The Northwest Symphony Orchestra of Saint Petersburg brings together the best musicians of the orchestras of
Saint Petersburg. The singers from the Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow and the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre
perform the key scenes from the opera „Eugene Onegin“ and the exquisite ballet music sounds just as gracious and magnificent as once at the flamboyant court balls. The evening is finished by the powerful The 1812 Overture, at the culmination of which, the church bells of Haapsalu Dome Church join in, and if the air humidity is suitable for the historic cannon, we can also hear cannon salutes.

Tim Kliphuis Trio (Netherlands),
The Orchestra of the Tallinn Music High School

Tim Kliphius, a violinist and a master of jazz arrangements who left the Estonian audience in awe a couple of
years ago, gives the listener a chance to enjoy Tchaikovsky in a jazz arrangement at the last concert of the festival. The concert includes themes from „Serenade“ and „Souvenir de Hapsal“, but also Ellington and Copland. The string players from the Orchestra of the Tallinn Music High School also participate. The young musicians, who will perform on world stages in the future and hopefully play as soloists at the future Tchaikovsky festivals, lend a special feeling to the concert with their energy and spark.