Tombs, elegies and ruins: Baltic & Estonian Music Days

Taavi Kerikmäe (harmonium) and Anna-Liisa Eller (kannel)

Anna-Liisa Eller performs on the kannel

Ruins of Tartu Cathedral

By Lawrence Dunn, 28 April 2024

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“this was music one had to lean in to hear – before it disappeared for good”

Reviewed at University of Tartu Museum: White Hall, Tartu on 27 April 2024

Kozlova-Johannes, A Place Not Found (world premiere)

Tulve, Elegeia (world premiere)

Visée, Tombeau pour Mesdemoiselles de Visée

Bach, Adagissimo from Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother BWV 992 (arr. A.-L. Eller / T. Kerikmäe)

Weiss, Tombeau sur la morte m Comte de Logy (arr. A.-L. Eller)

Anna-Liisa Eller, Estonian kannel

Taavi Kerikmäe, Clavichord

Requiem to a troubled genius at the Southbank’s Multitudes

Chris Garlick, 29th April

As part of the Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival, Unnatural Harmony: Sounds of Lee Alexander McQueen offers a multimedia tribute to the life and creative vision of the iconic British fashion designer.

****1

Saariaho’s Notes on Light receives its Berlin premiere

Elena Luporini, 29th April

Sakari Oramo and Annsi Karttunen bring Northern lights and folklore to the Philharmonie, closing on a touch of Czech optimism with Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony.

***11

Steve Reich at 90 celebrated in Liverpool

Pwyll ap Sion, 29th April

A compelling concert at Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium offers a striking Josephine Stephenson’s UK premiere, dazzling John Adams and Steve Reich’s mesmerising Reich/Richter.

*****

Dazzling Prokofiev from Alim Beisembayev and the RLPO

Peter Connors, 26th April

In an all-Russian programme in Liverpool, Alim Beisembayev gives a breathtaking performance of Prokofiev's fiendishly difficult Second Piano Concerto.

****1

Wretches like us: the LPO’s concert Wozzeck cuts to the quick

Peter Quantrill, 25th April

Beautifully prepared singing and playing brings out the tender side to Berg's modernist classic as part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.

****1

A Evgeny Kissin tour de force in Boston

Kevin Wells, 25th April

Andrey Boreyko makes an impressive debut with the Boston Symphony, where Evgeny Kissin performs in not one, but two piano concertos.

****1

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Lawrence Dunn

Lawrence is commissioning editor at Bachtrack. He is a composer, improviser, pianist and writer. He has taught at Cambridge, Huddersfield and Sheffield universities. He has written music for, among others the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, Slagwerk Den Haag, Philip Thomas, Juliet Fraser, Ilya Gringolts, Plus-Minus, Exaudi, Apartment House and Explore Ensemble.