Ralf Taal, Age Juurikas, Sten Lassmann, Sten Heinoja, Maksim Štšura
The biggest piano festival in the Baltic and Nordic area, the International Festival Piano takes place from November 16 to 23 at the Estonia Concert Hall in Tallinn. Five piano concertos and Choral Fantasy Op. 80 by Ludwig van Beethoven are at the centre of this year’s festival, performed by three Estonian orchestras – Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, and Estonian Sinfonietta – together with top Estonian pianists Age Juurikas, Maksim Štšura, Ralf Taal, Irina Zahharenkova, and Sten Lassmann.
Solo recitals will be given by internationally acclaimed guest pianists from four different generations: Lucas Debargue (France), Nikolai Demidenko (Russia), Yeol Eum Son (South Korea), and Pietro De Maria (Italy), who, in addition to Beethoven's masterpieces, will perform various piano music from the romantic era.
The festival also features young pianists from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre as well as the new album presentation by pianist Rein Rannap.
International Festival Piano was launched in 1998 at the discretion of pianist Lauri Väinmaa. The festival presents the best classical piano music as well as introduces top-class pianists both from Estonia and abroad to the Estonian audience. The festival also draws attention to the format of a traditional piano recital practised for as many as 150 years.
The artistic director of the festival Piano is Sten Lassmann.
See also: Eesti Kontsert