Event Guide

ESTONIA

May 4-6, Author’s Song Festival Mailaul 2017, Tartu

Tens of singers and songwriters from Estonia gather in Tartu for three days every spring in order to bring the thoughts and feelings turned into music before the audience. Mailaul (The Song of May) is a festival for a listener who wants to feel together with the performing author. Learn more about the festival at the official webpage www.mailaul.ee 

May 5, Jazz Concert by Robert Jürjendal and the Band, Theatre NO99 Jazz Club, Tallinn

Robert Jürjendal and the Band were formed in connection with Robert Jürjendal’s 50th anniversary concert at Viljandi Guitar Festival in October 2016. At the end of the same year, Robert Jürjendal was nominated as the Musician of the Year. Robert Jürjendal’s activity within more than 30 creative years has been extremely versatile. He has recorded numerous records, written music for films and theatre, composed music for different band line-ups in various genres. The concert program consists of music from Robert Jürjendal’s solo records which have been arranged for concert performances for a larger group. The concert is organized by the Estonian Jazz union. Additional information on the concert can be found at www.jazz.ee 

May 5-6, Tallinn Craft Beer Weekend 2017, Tallinn Creative Hub

TCBW is the first and largest International Craft Beer Festival in the Baltic region. The event is organized by Põhjala Brewery and first took place in 2015. Over 30 of the best breweries from Europe and the US are participating every year. TCBW is a festival for beer lovers – people who are looking for an experience of new aromas and tastes in their beer. Serving size is 50 ml and each brewery will bring 8 world class beers to this 2-day event. So, over the course of these two 6-hour sessions, the guests will have a choice of over 240 extraordinary beers. Festival ticket includes all beers inside the venue – no tokens, no cash (except for food), no hassle! Festival tickets can be purchased via www.piletilevi.ee 

May 5-12, PromFest Pärnu International Opera Music Festival, Pärnu 

The festival originated as the Klaudia Taevi International Young Opera Singers Competition that is still one of the main events of the festival today. The greatest crowd-pleaser is the original opera production. In addition to the opera production there are also various concerts, master classes and film screenings. The festival was created to provide young opera singers with an opportunity to develop their art and to expose the younger generations to opera. The Festival’s program and tickets are available at www.promfest.ee 

May 13, Jazz Concert by Paul Daniel & Ramuel Tafenau, Philly Joe’s Jazz Club, Tallinn

At the concert of the duo Paul Daniel & Ramuel Tafenau one can hear a world of improvisational and experimental sounds. The program consists mainly of the music composed by Paul Daniel. In the group there are a guitar and drums. Two opposite worlds meet in their music: a tender, intimate acoustic guitar and percussion instruments, and a rough, strong electric guitar and drums. The concert is organized by Estonian Jazz union. Additional information on the concert can be found at www.jazz.ee 

Open till May 14, Abundance and Ephemerality. Still Lives from Finnish and Baltic Collections, Kadriorg Art Museum, Tallinn

The compositions by the 17th and 18th century Dutch, Italian and French masters of flower bouquets, fruit baskets and elegantly covered breakfast tables, as well as their compositions of hunting trophies, have charmed viewers for centuries with the mastery of their painting techniques and allegorical subtexts. Along with earlier paintings, this exhibition also includes works by contemporary artists from Finland and the Baltic countries that relate technically and thematically to the still life genre. The 17th and early 18th centuries can be considered to be the golden age of the still life genre, especially in the Netherlands. By juxtaposing still lives from 17th and 18th century Europe with contemporary art, the exhibition creates opportunity to contrast and compare the development of the themes and keywords (abundance, ephemerality and consumption) in European art culture and mentality through five centuries. The exhibition is accompanied by various programs and workshops for the public. The exhibition is organized by Estonian Museum of Art and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Cultural Endowment of Estonia. 

May 12, Shostakovich’s Fifth, 4th Concert of the City Lights Series, Estonian Concert Hall, Tallinn

The fifth symphonies by both Shostakovich and Prokofiev will be performed by the winner of ENSO’s Special Prize in “Classical Stars” competition, pianist Kristiina Rokashevich, who will appear as a soloist with the orchestra, featuring the young Venezuelan violinist and conductor Christian Vásquez. Detailed information on the concert program is available at www.erso.ee 

 

LATVIA

Open till May 7, Maija Luutonen’s Solo Exhibition “Easy Peacy, Plan, Dive”, Contemporary Art Center, Riga

As part of the Contemporary Art Center's program Institutional Residence, which was launched in 2016, the solo exhibition of Finnish artist Maija Luutonen from the Helsinki Sic Space of Contemporary Art, is being held in Riga. Considering the surface as something transient, Luutonen addresses the relation between time and movement, treating the works as moving images – only that they shift too slowly for the human eye or lifetime. Her practice often narrates around spatial immersion, our relation to built environment, nature and all its scales. Find out more at www.kim.lv 

May 11, Latvian Choir 75th Anniversary Concert, Dome Cathedral, Riga

The concert will mark the 75th anniversary of the Latvian National Academic Choir. The program will feature Francesco Durante, Benjamin Britten and Gabriel Fauré. The concert starts at 20:00.

May 13, Concert by Vineta Sareika and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, Dzintari Concert Hall, Jurmala

The program of the concert Born in Latvia by violinist Vineta Sareika and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra will feature F. Mendelssohn’s Overture "Hebrides", M. Bruch’s first concert for violin and orchestra op sol minor. 26 and F. Mendelssohn’s Third Symphony la minor op. 56th. To buy tickets please go to www.bilesuparadize.lv and learn more about the concert at www.dzintarukoncertzale.lv

Open till May 14, Exhibition – Cameras, Art Nouveau Museum, Riga

Society during the Art Nouveau period, as well as the beliefs and development of the arts at the time are inseparably connected to scientific discoveries and the technology of the time, including the development of photography. The exhibition features photo cameras from the early 1900's. Learn more at www.jugendstils.riga.lv

 

LITHUANIA

May 5-6, 13th Wine Exhibition “Vyno Dienos 2017”, Exhibition and Convention Centre Litexpo, Vilnius

The wine exhibition Vyno Dienos is the biggest wine and spirits event in the Baltic States, where professionals meet professionals and final consumers. For two days, wine and spirits producers, international importers, gourmet representatives, and companies producing glass and wine accessories may enjoy the company and attention of more than 4,000 visitors that are closely related and are interested in the presented products. This is the right time, the right place and right targeted audience (sommeliers, wine importers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, fine wine lovers, wine, food and life journalists etc.) for the professional wine lecturers, experts and writers to spread the most updated information about wine and to guide various tastings on the different subjects. See more info at www.vynodienos.lt 

Open till May 6, Painting Exhibition by Solomonas Teitelbaumas, Gallery Arka, Vilnius

Don’t miss the chance to visit the painting exhibition In the Search of Spiritual Support by Solomonas Teitelbaumas, who is one of the most talented artists of his generation. He continues the 20th-century painting tradition and the tradition of the Paris school of Jewish artists (such as Soutine, Kikoine, Kremegne) who were born in the historic lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The meaning of his pictures hinges on the manner of painting and the understanding of painting, his state of mind, and his inner tension, instead of on the representation of the subject matter. His works cover the drama of Jewish history, alongside the subjective emotional development of 20th century human psychology. Teitelbaumas skillfully exploits the power of the emotional mesmerism of color, light and brushstrokes in his paintings, whether they are portraits, still lives, coastal nature or Vilnius’ Old Town. The entrance to the exhibition is free of charge.

May 10, Guitar Fiesta 2017, Town Hall, Vilnius

Guitar Fiesta is for guitar lovers and for those who feel passion for guitar sounds. This festival will focus on ensemble music. In the concerts, the listeners can enjoy amazing artists from Lithuania and other countries. The artists have prepared a show full of vitality and feeling. Don’t miss it! Additional information can be found at www.artslibera.com/projektai and tickets can be purchased at www.bilietai.lt 

May 12, Concert by Pietro Borgonovo, Lithuanian National Philharmonic, Vilnius

Milan native Pietro Borgonovo is one of the most outstanding conductors of the symphonic and operatic repertoire today, performing frequently at the major festivals and theatres. In this concert, the Maestro will lead the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and young pianist Kristina Annamukhamedova who has earned recognition in major international competitions. As a soloist Annamukhamedova has appeared with the Lithuanian and St. Christopher Chamber Orchestras, as well as Kaunas Symphony Orchestra. Detailed information on the concert and ticket purchase can be found at www.filharmonija.lt 

May 12, New Baltic Dance’17 Opening Night by Cloud Gate Dance Theater (Taiwan), Lithuanian National Drama Theatre, Vilnius

During 19 years of its existence, the International Contemporary Dance Festival New Baltic Dance has grown into one of the main and most prestigious dance festivals in the Baltic Sea region. It is organized by Lithuanian Dance Information Centre and Vilnius Festivals and takes place each may at different venues in Vilnius. The program of the New Baltic Dance consists of both well-established companies with famous productions and new young companies/choreographers with experimental works. One of the guidelines of the festival is to present the latest productions, thus the event is open for premieres, post-premieres, pre-premieres. The festival also provides the possibility for Lithuanian choreographers to show their recent works. During the concert that will open the festival on May 12, there will be two performances – White Water and Dust – presented by Cloud Gate Dance Theater from Taiwan. While White Water flows like a movable celebration of life, Dust cries out from the darkest of the night, evoking memory of Goya’s Black Paintings. Premiered in 2014, two of Lin Hwai-min’s latest creations make up a powerful double bill with great contrast in styles and contents. Detailed information on the festival’s program, participants, venues and tickets can be found at www.dance.lt 

May 6, When Oboe is Soloing, Lithuanian National Philharmonic, Vilnius

The concert will feature soloist Robertas Beinaris, conductor Olivier Grangean and Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. Robertas Beinaris is one of Lithuania’s leading oboists, the head of the Wind and Percussion Department at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, the Doctor of Arts. Beautiful sound of his oboe will certainly enchant the listeners. In the concert, the soloist will perform Concerto for oboe and strings in A minor by Ralph Vaughan Williams. The composer wrote the opus in the full swing of the WWII and its intended premiere in the prestigious “Proms” on July 5, 1944 was cancelled due to the bomber air raid in London. Maestro Oliver Grangean, the French conductor greatly admired by Lithuanian audience, will grace the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra’s podium. He will lead the LNSO in Petite Suite, Debussy’s refined symphonic score. Originally written for piano 4 hands in 1894, the Suite soon became popular and was arranged for different instruments including organ as well as symphony and wind orchestras. The concert program will also include Beethoven’s Second Symphony, which can be regarded as an autobiographical document disclosing the composer’s spiritual victory against the blows of life (deafness, unrequited love). Detailed information on the concert and ticket purchase can be found at www.filharmonija.lt