The theme of this year’s festival is „Sacred“. Sacred in the broadest, most beautiful and most human sense – from a blissful feeling of holiness to a quiet state of gratitude, from daily celebrations to uniqueness and miracle. Festival presents more than 30 new pieces from our outstanding composers of younger and older generations performed by our top collectives and interpreters. On April 13, The LHV award for new compositions „Au-tasu“ will be handed out in Estonia Concert Hall.EMD, held for the 39th time this year, is the largest festival of premieres in Estonia, featuring more than 30 new pieces from our outstanding composers of younger and older generations. Performers are top collectives such as Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National Male Choir, Yxus Ensemble, Ensemble U:, Tallinn New Music Ensemble, Vox Clamantis, Heinavanker, Prezioso String Quartet, Heigo Rosin, Kadri-Ann Sumera, Tõnu Kalm, Mingo Rajandi, Ekke Västrik, Jaanus Siniväli, Kristin Kuldkepp and many others including renowned instrumentalists and groups from Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany.
The composers represented at the festival are Toivo Tulev, Jüri Reinvere, Kristjan Randalu, Maria Kõrvits, Pärt Uusberg, Arash Yazdani, Helena Tulve, Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes, Liisa Hirsch, Märt-Matis Lill, Galina Grigorjeva, Kristjan Kõrver, Malle Maltis, Margo Kõlar, Robert Jürjendal, Ardo-Ran Varres, Lepo Sumera, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Liina Sumera, Riho-Esko Maimets, Gerta Raidma, Age Veeroos, Mari Vihmand, Mart Saar, Kuldar Sink, Cyrillus Kreek and others.
From April 8 to 11, Mini-EMD, a modern classical music festival for youth organised by a group of high school students, will also take place in the framework of the Estonian Music Days. The Mini-EMD, a unique festival in Northern Europe, was recognized as the best project at the Estonian National Youth Council’s Youth Project 2015 competition and at the Tallinn Sports and Youth Department’s Great Achievements 2015 competition.
On April 13, at the concert of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra „Holy Magma“, the award ceremony of the new composition prize Au-tasu founded by LHV Bank will be held in Estonia Concert Hall. The award is made up of 5000 euros and a new commission.
As a continuation to the festival in April, ballet „Keres“ will be staged in September as a collaboration between the Theatre Centre Vaba Lava and the Estonian National Opera. The contemporary ballet production is based on the life of Paul Keres (1916–1975), the Estonian chess grandmaster in the turmoil of historic events. The original music is composed by Timo Steiner and Sander Mölder and staged by choreographer Teet Kask.
Estonian Music Days are organised by the Estonian Composers’ Union, artistic directors of the festival are Timo Steiner and Helena Tulve.
More info: http://www.eestimuusikapaevad.ee/en/events/