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An event for developing contacts in Great Britain introducing Estonian classical music entitled Estonia – A Music Powerhouse was held in Cardiff, Wales on 22 May. Preliminary agreements were signed for commissioning Estonian musical compositions and bringing musical performing groups to Great Britain.
The Estonian Music Development Centre organised this event in cooperation with the Estonian Embassy in London. It was held within the framework of the Vale of Glamorgan Festival, which has delighted music lovers for decades. This year’s festival was dedicated to the 80th birthday of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
Estonia’s Ambassador to Great Britain Lauri Bambus opened the event held in the magnificent Wales Millennium Centre. The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra performed for local agencies, festival organisers and journalists at this event moderated by the renowned composer Peter Reynolds, and the Estonian composers Helena Tulve, Tõnu Kõrvits and Märt-Matis Lill spoke about their work in composing.
“The event introducing Estonian composers held at the festival affirmed and strengthened the great interest that there is here in Estonian compositions,” acknowledged the composer Märt-Matis Lill. “In conversations with the festival organisers and journalists who attended the event, they praised the distinctiveness, artistic quality and high level of sophistication of Estonian music and expressed their willingness and interest in bringing Estonian music to Great Britain and in covering it in the media.”
According to the event’s organisers, the Estonian Embassy’s Cultural Counsellor Kristel Oitmaa and Estonian Music Development Centre Managing Director Marge Raun, the event was intentionally planned as part of the Vale of Glamorgan Festival programme that was held on 12-23 May. John Metcalf, the festival’s founder and artistic director, is a great admirer of Estonian music. Compositions by Arvo Pärt and other contemporary Estonian composers were performed at practically every concert during the festival lasting nearly two weeks. Estonian musicians gave three concerts. Kristjan Järvi conducted the Estonian choir and orchestra at the festival’s concluding concert.
The Estonian Embassy in London, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Estonian Music Development Centre and the Estonian Cultural Endowment all supported the holding of this event promoting contacts with Estonian classical music.
See also: http://vm.ee/et/uudised/eesti-klassikaline-muusika-vale-glamorgan-muusikafestivalil-walesis
For further information on the festival, see: http://valeofglamorganfestival.org.uk/home/