Pärnu Music Festival opens with world premieres and international stars

The annual Pärnu Music Festival (Pärnu muusikafestival) began on Wednesday evening with a concert conducted by maestro Neeme Järvi. He and his two conductor sons, Kristjan and Paavo, will lead performances throughout the 10-day event.

On Thursday, leading Estonian cellist Theodor Sink performed with the Järvi Academy Sinfonietta, made up of young professional Estonian musicians, under young conductors from the Järvi Academy's international conducting course. Among those conducting was Estonian conductor Kaur Pennert.

On Friday, Kristjan Järvi and Nordic Pulse gave two "Solstice" concerts inspired by midsummer. The program featured Kristjan Järvi's "Midnight Sun" alongside works by Jean Sibelius in a new interpretation by Nordic Pulse.

On Saturday, Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra, which he founded, open with the world premiere of Tõnu Kõrvits's viola concerto "Salaaed" ("The Secret Garden"), featuring Berlin Philharmonic principal violist Amihai Grosz. On Sunday, Latvian soloists Kristīne and Margarita Balanas will perform Philip Glass's "Double Concerto for violin and cello" with the orchestra under Järvi.

Pianists Rudolf Buchbinder and Alice Sara Ott appear next Friday and Saturday (July 17 and 18) in Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3. The festival also presents world premieres by Estonian composers Liisa Hõbepappel (Sunday, July 12) and Evelin Seppar (Friday, July 17).

The Pärnu Music Festival's Young Talent program opens Tuesday. Founded by Paavo Järvi, it showcases emerging international soloists. The first performers with Paavo Järvi and the Estonian Festival Orchestra are violinist Paloma So, harpist Anaëlle Tourret and pianist Tähe-Lee Liiv.

On Monday, violinist Hans Christian Aavik returns with the chamber concert "Roots and Soundscapes." That evening, Henri Christofer Aavik conducts the world premiere of Märt-Matis Lill's flute concerto with the Pärnu City Orchestra, featuring flautists Maarika Järvi and Monika Mattiesen.

Also on Monday, Pärnu's St. Elizabeth's Church hosts Järvi Academy student concerts during the day and a faculty concert in the evening. The Järvi Academy concludes Wednesday with Triinu Piirsalu as soloist, conducted by young Academy conductors. The Estonian Festival Orchestra's chamber gala takes place Thursday, July 16.

This is the XVI Pärnu Music Festival.