Tartu classical guitar festival opens with baroque duo

A classical guitar festival running from Tuesday to Saturday has begun in Tartu, ERR reported. The programme features concerts by internationally known musicians and performers at the start of their careers.

The festival opened with the Swiss-Estonian baroque duo Viiv and its concert “Rebels and Dreamers of the Early Baroque”. Siri Löeffel and Priit Peterson are performing 17th-century Italian music on recorder and the relatively rare theorbo, a lute-related instrument.

“The theorbo comes from 17th-century Italy and is a distant relative of the guitar. Although this is a guitar festival, it cannot be called a guitar; it is more directly related to the lute,” Peterson explained.

He said the instrument has seven long bass strings that produce a low sound. It was historically used mainly as an accompanying instrument, while its possibilities as a solo instrument are fairly limited.

Peterson said he was particularly drawn to the theorbo’s distinctive tone. He added that the instrument offers opportunities to play with other instruments and is in demand in early music, although there are relatively few theorbo players.

The festival’s remaining concerts will focus on classical guitar music. Among the performers is Harald Trass, a winner of several competitions.