Baltic Sea Philharmonic tours the coastline

On April 15, 16, and 18 the Baltic coastal cities of Klaipeda (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), and Tallinn (Estonia) will host performances of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic.
Embarking on its inaugural tour, the newly formed orchestra, comprising of 80 young and talented musicians from all 10 countries surrounding the Baltic Sea (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), will perform under the baton of Kristjan Jarvi, the orchestra’s Founding Conductor and Music Director.
Jarvi has been described as one of the world’s most inspiring and energetic conductors.

The tour program, entitled “Baltic Sea Landscapes,” will feature works of Jean Sibelius’s Karelia Suite, Arvo Part’s Swansong, Sergej Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 and Piano Concerto No. 3, Stravinsky’s Firebird, and Gediminas Gelgotas’s Mountains. Waters. (Freedom).
The environment will be a prime focus for the tour, with pieces being performed that come from the area and are written by composers who have been inspired by nature.

“Concern for the environment is a key part of Baltic Sea Philharmonic’s philosophy, and the programme of the ‘Baltic Sea Landscapes’ tour reflects this,” says Jarvi.
He adds: “It’s music that makes you feel the Northern Lights, the ice, the cold wind, the forests, the incredible feeling when you jump into the lakes. The whole mentality and way of being of the region is formed by nature, which is why you have these great Baltic composers.”

Jarvi believes that we all have a responsibility to take care of the Baltic Sea.
“One way for us to do this is to draw attention to the incredible culture, heritage, languages, traditions, songs, and dances, as well as to the vulnerable environment of the Baltic Sea.”
 
The Baltic Sea Philharmonic was formed as a new multinational orchestra, as a sister orchestra to Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic (BYP), which was founded in 2008 as a joint initiative of the Usedom Music Festival and Nord Stream AG, who have continued to support the orchestra ever since. Both orchestras are run by the Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation e. V.

The two orchestras share the same ambitions towards culture, society, and the environment, upholding the principle that music can unite people of all nationalities and backgrounds and change society for the better, especially in a region that has historically been divided.

As the German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated, the orchestra is “a compelling example of using music as a powerful medium for cooperation and integration across borders.”
Over time, the educational aspect of BYP’s work with 18-to-28-year-olds intensified, with the formation of Baltic Sea Music Academy including its orchestra LAB, workshops, and composer programmes. This year’s Academy will take place in Liepaja from April 9 – 14 also as a preparation for the upcoming tour. It is a unique concept offering talented young players the chance to work intensively in a professional orchestral context. For a whole week, they have the opportunity to work with Jarvi and an esteemed group of coaches, living, breathing, eating, and sleeping music. The experience opens up a world of possibilities for them: musically, in training and inspiring them; professionally, in giving them insight into life as a musician; and making friends and colleagues from across the entire Baltic Sea region who will last a lifetime.

This is part of the LAB’s progressive outlook, as Jarvi explains: “Our aim is to develop a different type of approach to playing and understanding music, a holistic approach. This includes practical aspects of making music — using one’s body properly, enjoying the physicality of playing, the feeling of fun and making friends, of being part of one rhythmic entity. But it also includes the entrepreneurial sides: getting things done effectively, being organised, commissioning music, helping conductors to work better and quicker. We serve all these different components in helping musicians achieve their musical potential.”

All of these activities are run by the Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation (BMEF), created in 2013 to develop these elements into a consolidated music educational system for the region.
“Initially, as an organization we tried to highlight the cooperation between the countries of the Baltic Sea. We wanted to reflect this in a multinational orchestra made up of young people. The main goal was to make music together,” says Jarvi.
The organization has developed into an institution larger than even Jarvi could have ever imagined. “This is why we have launched the Baltic Sea Philharmonic in addition to our youth orchestra — the Baltic Sea Youth Philharmonic. It will still be a young orchestra based on BYP, but former alumni can also apply,” he says.
“The new orchestra is a natural evolution in our success story.”

In Sept. 2016 the Baltic Sea Philharmonic tours with its “Baltic Sea Discovery” programme across Central Europe. Repertoire takes the theme of the swan, with works by Part (Swansong) and Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake). Gidon Kremer and his Kremerata Baltica join the orchestra, with its players embedded in Baltic Sea Philharmonic for the whole tour, and Kremer performing Weinberg’s Violin Concerto.

Baltic Sea Philharmonic “Baltic Sea Landscapes” Tour: April 2016
Kristjan Jarvi, conductor; Alexander Toradze, piano
 
Programme
 
April 15 (Friday) 18:00 @ Klaipeda (Concert Hall), Lithuania
 
April 16 (Saturday) 19:00 @ Liepaja (Great Amber Concert Hall), Latvia
 
April 18 (Monday) 19:00 @ Tallinn (Estonia Concert Hall), Estonia
 
April 19 (Tuesday) 19:00 @ Helsinki (Music Centre), Finland
 
April 21 (Thursday) 18:30 @ St. Petersburg (Mariinsky Concert Hall), Russia
 
April 23 (Saturday) 19:00 @ Moscow (Tchaikovsky Concert Hall), Russia
 
Jean Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11 (Klaipeda, Liepaja, Tallinn, Helsinki only)
 
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D major Classical, Op. 25 (Tallinn, St. Petersburg, Moscow only)
 
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 (except for Tallinn)
Arvo Part: Swansong (Littlemore Tractus) for orchestra
 
Gediminas Gelgotas: Mountains. Waters. (Freedom)
 
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird (1945)

Further information on the Baltic Sea Philharmonic and the Baltic Sea Music Education Foundation (BMEF) can be found at the website

 

WIN FREE  CONCERT TICKETS
Baltic Sea Philharmonic

The Baltic Times is giving readers the opportunity to win two tickets to the April performances of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic in Kaipeda (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), Tallinn (Estonia).
 

What is the name of the Baltic Sea Philharmonic tour in April 2016?
 
1. Baltic Sea Discovery
2. Baltic Sea Landscapes
3. Baltic Faces

Send your answer to [email protected]