Festival 2019

Festival Program

Tickets

Dear Festival guests,
The beauty and colours of autumn provide the setting for the no less colourful programme of the 24th Festival Orient et Occident whose visual side will complement the musical experience. The Festival’s opening concert at St.John’s church in Tartu offers a rare repertoire of Spanish baroque music for the organ, not only to listen to but also to see choreography inspired by the music. The performers are Lilian Langsepp and Saile Johanna Langsepp. The symbolic greeting to the Festival guests comes from the host, the FA Schola Ensemble. In addition to classical Persian music, the Hamdan Ensemble that consists of masters of Iranian music will perform earlier Kurdish musical heritage as well as Sufi music from Kurdish regions that is strongly influenced by the folk music tradition of the area. We will be able to see the meditative whirling familiar from the Sufi tradition. The night concert of the Ulv Ensemble will bring to us magical scenes from ancient Scandinavian folklore as well as highlights from medieval European music. The ensemble’s soloist is Agnethe Christenesen whose extraordinary voice and vocal technique is unique in the whole world. Something totally new will be offered at the the concert of Trio Hierbabuena (Finland/Spain) where the audience will hear and see songs and dances inspired by the petenera tradition in the ensemble’s characteristic masterly performance. Petenera has entered the genre of flamenco via Mexico in the mid-19th century, but its roots reach back to different layers of early European music. The songs of various eras and places included in the concert’s programme tell of departure and departed longing. Pt. Nayan Ghosh (sitar, tabla), the world famous grand old man from India will reveal the depths of North Indian, or Hindustani, Classical music, accompanied by Ishaan Ghosh, laureate of several competitions and one of the most brilliant tabla players of the Indian younger generation. The musical meetings of the Festival’s final concert at Tallinn Town Hall will offer an opportunity to listen to all performers separately, yet its common thread lies in improvisation that unites all the artists and styles.
Wishing you a wonderful festival experience
Raho Langsepp
Artistic Director of the Festival