Event Guide

ESTONIA
January 13 – March 26, Comics Exhibition Grey Area, Tartu Art Museum, Tartu
For most viewers, comics are an area that they don’t know much about. This exhibition offers an extensive exploration of the undiscovered essence of contemporary Estonian comics. Twenty-first century Estonian comics are hard to define or describe since most of them have lost their connection to their traditional newspaper roots. In Estonian contemporary culture, comics play a marginal role that seems to exist in a bizarre quasi-state without its own mainstream, recognizable image or specific and stable outputs. The present selection of works records an anomalous phenomenon that disappears into other cultural media. The exhibition investigates the effects that contemporary comics have in a gallery environment and the experiences they can offer to the audience. Humor is included, as might be expected, but comparable weight is given to philosophical musings on everyday and fantastical subjects, as well as lurking disquiet and alienation. Most of the exhibited works have been made specifically for the present exhibition and, in addition to short or long comics in traditional formats, they include rarities and experiments. Please visit www.tartmus.ee for full information on the exhibition.

January 25-29, DocPoint Tallinn Documentary Festival 2017, cinemas Sõprus and Artis, Tallinn
DocPoint Tallinn is organized in collaboration with the DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival that expanded from Finland to Estonia in January 2010. The festival takes place in two capitals simultaneously, and the programs include a combination of national and international documentary films from the recent years. For films, program, tickets and more please visit the festival’s official website: www.docpoint.ee

January 26, Estonian Music Awards 2017, Nordea Concert Hall, Tallinn
Organized by the Estonian Association of the Phonogram Producers, the Estonian Music Awards 2017 Gala recognizes the best local pop, rock, classical and other artists of 2016. The show awards the best female artist, male artist, band, song and album as well as many other categories. As always, the best artists in Estonia will give spectacular performances. All the performances will have special effects created just for the night, and the show will be live broadcast by TV3. Tickets can be purchased via www.piletilevi.ee and additional information on the show is available at
www.muusikaauhinnad.ee

Open till February 2, Katrin Valgemäe’s Exhibition -- I’m a Romantic at Heart, but Life Has Become Vulgar - Rakvere Theatre, Rakvere
Katrin Valgemäe is a painter, who at the moment is studying in the master’s program of the Estonian Academy of Arts. Dealing mainly with making sense of the human essence, her topics include social identity, societal customs and norms, female in a given cultural space, also life and immortality, as she considers death a temporary phenomenon. For more info please go to www.rakvereteater.ee

February 3, Jazz Concert by Mairo Marjamaa Quartet, Jazz Club Theatre NO99, Tallinn
Mairo Marjamaa Quartett is a new group of the young and angry, who are united by the passion for music and the synergy resulting from it. The group is new, but it plays only original creations with the focus on neo-jazz, plus influences from classical music, musical pictures about the lives of the authors of the pieces, and a philosophical vision about people, existence and life. An open mind and communication at the energetic level is expected from the audience in order to be a part of the trip to the musicians’ inner world. The concert is organized by the Estonian Jazz Union, and all other information on the concert can be found at: www.jazz.ee

LATVIA

January 26 Through the Years - Opening Concert of the Three Stars Music Festival, National Theatre, Riga
The festival Three Stars is organized by the Orchestra Riga with support from the Education, Culture and Sport Department of the Riga City Council. The opening concert is dedicated to Latvia’s centenary and will have two parts: Part I will take the audience back in time to the 1920s and 1930s with performances of music of that time, slideshows of original photos and interesting facts about the day-to-day life of interwar Latvia, while Part II will feature a program of maestro Raimonds Pauls’ compositions, with the author at the piano. Performers will include:
Maestro Raimonds Pauls, Orchestra Riga, conductor Valdis Butans, solo artists Dinara Rudane, Ilona Bagele, Daumants Kalnins, a capella group Framest, as well as Dita Lurina and other actors from the Latvian National Theatre. Tickets can be bought online via www.bilesuparadize.lv

January 28, Mozart’s Piano Concerto and Haffner Symphony, Great Guild Hall, Riga
“Nordic tranquility and Nordic fire meet in him,” says composer Peteris Vasks of his friend and colleague Juha Kangas. The Finnish conductor, who appears serious and reserved at first has always been driven by an unstoppable fascination with Baltic and Nordic music, and many will agree that several times, he alone, has managed to find the key to the mysterious and often baffling Northern world of sound. Another of Kangas’ spiritual relatives in music is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His Haffner Symphony was composed on request of a prominent Salzburg family; the 23rd Piano Concerto was written and premièred in Vienna, but in Riga it will be performed by Reinis Zarins, a Latvian pianist living and working in London. To purchase tickets please go to www.bilesuparadize.lv and for complete information on the concert please visit www.sinfoniettariga.lv

February 3-25, Glass Art Exhibition “Melting Limits”, Latvian Art Academy, Riga
Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian art students and professors will display their glass art works on the ground floor of the Latvian Art Academy from February 3-25. The works represent the latest trends in Baltic glass art. The exhibition’s idea is to give an opportunity to assess the contribution of the Baltic artists during the last year, to see the differences, and to emphasize the commonality. Entry to the exhibition is free of charge. For other information on the exhibition please visit www.lma.lv

Open till February 11, Laima Bikse’s Exhibition Dream Gardener - Gallery Daugava, Riga
Dreams, memories, secrets, some mysticism and a good portion of reality, like in all fairytales. Laima Bikše’s paintings tell mostly about what has or might have been in an artistically credible way. Somehow, the settings seem so familiar to all of us, we all have been there, but at the same time this place is full of surprises. Learn more about the exhibition at www.galerijadaugava.lv

January 21 – March 12, Exhibition Western European Graphics. 15th-20th Centuries, Riga Bourse Art Museum, Riga
The 500th anniversary of the Reformation Movement will be celebrated around the world in 2017. Although we know of other separate attempts to reform the Christian religion in previous centuries, October 31st,1517 is still symbolically considered to be its beginning. On this day, Martin Luther (1483–1546) nailed his 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Church, turning radically against the trading of indulgences. He wanted to encourage academic discussion on the absolution of sins and did not suspect, at that time, that division in the Church would continue for centuries due to the influence of political and economic circumstances. To commemorate the beginning of this Reformation Movement commenced by Luther, the Latvian National Museum of Art, the National Library of Latvia, and the University of Latvia, have developed a considerable program, in which the exhibition by the Riga Bourse Art Museum is the opening event. Each institution, in its area of expertise, is creating its own story about the Reformation, and the period from the Reformation until today, revealing its reflection within society, culture, science, books and art. Most of the works represent the changing ideals of German, Dutch, English and French society over the centuries, with a particular emphasis on religious movements spawned by the Reformation. Among the gems on display are prints by Rembrandt (1606-1669), Albrecht Dürer (1481-1528) and Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536). Full information on the exhibition can be found at www.lnmm.lv

LITHUANIA

January 8 – May 7, 6th J.S. Bach Music Festival, various locations in Vilnius and Trakai
Organized by the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society, J. S. Bach Music Festival in Vilnius is an annual event celebrating artistic inspiration, providing the stage for exciting initiatives, and featuring conceptually compelling programs, with particular focus on the music of the great German composer. Under the artistic direction of Prof. Algirdas Vizgirda, flutist and artistic director of the Musica Humana ensemble, over a few years, the J.S. Bach Music Week has grown into an international J.S. Bach Music Festival, attracting audiences to the spectacular venues in Vilnius’ Old Town, and inviting distinguished musicians renowned for their broad approach to the repertoire they perform. Learn more at www.filharmonija.lt

January 18 – April 23, Exhibition-- Valuable Items Acquired or Received as Gifts in 2009 – 2015, The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius
Interesting and valuable items that have never been shown before, most of which were presented to the museum by generous friends and supporters, are now being exhibited: tapestries from the 16th and 17th centuries, paintings depicting 15th to 18th-century Lithuanian personalities and religious scenes, graphic works, portraits of Polish and Lithuanian sovereigns and nobles, old maps of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, books from the library of the Sapiega family, impressive and significant publications on science and art from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and much more. Exhibition info is available at www.valdovurumai.lt

January 27-29, IFFR Live 2017, Cinema Theatre Pasaka, Vilnius
For the third time, the film event IFFR Live will connect more than 45 cinemas (including the cinema theatre Pasaka) all around Europe (and not only Europe) into one of the world’s largest film sessions. There will be a possibility to see five of the newest European films in the IFFR Live program in Vilnius. IFFR Live sessions will take place in all cinemas at the same time and will be accompanied by direct translations of presentations and meetings with the creators from Rotterdam. All films will be shown in the original language with English subtitles. Tickets can be bought online at www.tiketa.lt and detailed info on the festival’s program and more is available at www.kinopasaka.lt

January 28, The Symphonic Orchestra’s Birthday Concert, Congress Hall, Vilnius
The Symphonic Orchestra’s Birthday Concert is a present to all music lovers and a special evening event. This annual traditional event is devoted to remember the first concert of the Lithuanian State Symphonic Orchestra; the event is always distinguished by the highest mastery level performers, special program and elevated festive mood. This evening shall present the classics star – the world-class violin virtuoso Augustin Dumay, who is called one of the most famous violinists of the 20th century by critics. In the second part of the concert, the Lithuanian State Symphonic Orchestra, together with the soloist Lauryna Bendziunaite, shall perform a special composition – Symphony No 4, G-dur., created by the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler (1860–1911), which has become a distinctive symbol of the orchestra. On this festive evening, the Lithuanian State Orchestra shall be conducted by its creator, art director and senior conductor, laureate of the National Premium Maestro Gintaras Rinkevicius. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tiketa.lt and more info on the event can be found at www.lvso.lt

February 2, The String Theory Concert by Jose Gonzalez, Compensa concert hall, Vilnius
José González, a representative of Swedish culture and star of indie folk music, is including Vilnius on his concert tour, and on 2 February, he will stage his first show in Lithuania at Compensa concert hall. He will perform The String Theory with an orchestra of 22 musicians, consisting of Swedish and German musicians. This project has no equals in the world. Its artistic director and chief conductor, the recognized German composer Nackt, will help to embody the live vision of the performance by José González. We guarantee that it will be something else. We’ll be dizzy with music! Buy tickets online via www.bilietupasaulis.lt

Open till February 3, Solo Exhibition by Zilvinas Kempinas, Gallery Vartai, Vilnius
Gallery Vartai is delighted to announce the opening of a solo show by Zilvinas Kempinas. It is the second solo exhibition by the artist at this gallery. The exhibition presents his newest and earlier works not previously exhibited in Lithuania. It includes installations that are specially adapted for the gallery spaces. The artist employs the laws of physics and masterfully manipulates the motion of light, air and metal, as well as that of the viewers themselves, thus, creating unique situations of aesthetic experience. The installations created by Kempinas operate as if they were natural phenomena such as: light and the flow of air. However, the most significant element that binds them is motion. The artist avoids ’predictable’ moves and aims for the impression of coincidence. Therefore, most of his work balances on the verge of falling and collapsing. In this way, the author emphasizes the temporariness of movement and creates fragile balance of the elements in the show, to which the viewers themselves contribute as they move through the gallery spaces. The artist works with the materials as if he were an orchestra conductor. He brilliantly manages to exploit the space, and emphasizes the most interesting features of the instruments he uses, so that they emit sound in the flawless harmony of planned and free motion. Learn more at www.galerijavartai.lt