Estonian Performers’ Week brings 50 musicians to 10 concerts

Estonian Performers’ Week will present 10 concerts featuring more than 50 musicians in Tallinn and Narva from November 9 to 15, ERR reports.

The festival grew out of the five-year-running Estonian Music Week and continues under a new name, with a stronger focus on performers. Its programme spans music from the Baroque era to Mozart, Schubert, contemporary works and improvisation. Organisers say a partnership with the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre will also showcase musicians at the start of their careers.

Among the performers are pianists Ivari Ilja, Mihkel Poll, Maksim Štšura and Hando Nahkur; violinist Mari Poll; cellists Theodor Sink, Henry-David Varema and Siluan Hirvoja; clarinettist Toomas Vavilov; bassoonist Peeter Sarapuu; organist Andres Uibo; guitarist Robert Jürjendal; percussionist Heigo Rosin; singer Mati Turi; and the M4GNET string quartet.

The festival opens on November 9 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with “Estonian Wind Music Stars,” featuring 20th- and 21st-century works, classical repertoire and a new composition by Märt-Matis Lill.

On November 10, pianist Hando Nahkur, who lives in the United States, and the Prezioso string quartet will perform works by Sven Helbig and Max Richter at Fotografiska. On November 11, the M4GNET quartet and Vavilov will present a Mozart concert for school students at the academy. The following day, organists Andres Uibo and Toomas Trass and guitarist Robert Jürjendal will perform at the Niguliste Museum in a concert titled “Improvised and Composed.”

On November 13, Vavilov and M4GNET will perform Mozart’s string quartet and clarinet quintet at Kadriorg Art Museum. On November 14, the festival will bring a chamber music programme by Estonian wind soloists to Narva Town Hall. That evening, “Light and Shadows in the Baroque” at the academy will feature music by Vivaldi, Scarlatti and Handel.

The programme also includes “Through Young Eyes,” a concert of works from different periods performed by chamber ensembles of academy students. The festival concludes on November 15 at the academy, where the winners of this year’s Performer of the Year awards will be announced. The Estonian Performers’ Association has presented the awards since 2019.