Narva-Jõesuu festival puts fire at centre of second edition

Fire will be the central theme of the Tuletorn festival, which will bring classical musicians and international guests to Narva-Jõesuu from 20 to 23 August, ERR reports.

The festival is being held for the second time and will feature four days of chamber and symphonic music. Its programme includes recognised performers, international guests and a range of classical works.

The artistic concept for the festival’s first five years is based on the four elements of nature: water, fire, air and earth, connected by love. While last year’s theme was water, this year’s focus is fire as a symbol of hope, light, vitality and creativity.

“The lighthouse is one of the greatest symbols of hope for me. For a sailor lost at sea in a storm, finally seeing the light of a lighthouse must have meant enormous relief and hope. A lighthouse shows direction and helps people find their way,” artistic director Maria Seletskaja said.

“Hope is what moves us forward, makes us dream and wait, but also act,” she added.

The festival was launched in 2025 following Seletskaja’s initiative and with the support of the Estonian Chamber Music Association. Producer Kaia Lattikas said its activities would extend beyond the summer concerts, with workshops for young musicians planned for November this year. In future, the organisers also hope to add other art forms and involve creators, many of whom are from Ida-Viru County.

The festival is closely linked to Narva-Jõesuu, the city where Seletskaja was born and raised. She said she had long dreamed of bringing high-level classical music back to the city and reviving its former cultural life.

“Narva-Jõesuu has an exceptionally rich cultural history. It was a very popular resort where prominent and well-known people came to spend their holidays. From spring to early autumn, life was bustling, including cultural life. Salon evenings, exhibitions, theatre performances and concerts were held,” Seletskaja said.

Estonian music and performers will have a prominent place in the programme. The performers will include Estonian Sinfonietta conducted by Seletskaja, Estonian Percussion Group and soloists. The festival’s international guest will be Kim Jansson, a percussion soloist from Åland, Finland.

One of the programme’s main events will be the world premiere of a new work by Lauri Jõeleht, commissioned specifically for the Narva-Jõesuu Feestival and performed by Estonian Percussion Group. The festival will also include several Estonian premieres, while the work Sea Sketches will be performed in full for the first time.

The Tuletorn festival will take place from 20 to 23 August at the Narva-Jõesuu Medical Spa concert hall.