Ester Mägi’s compositions sung by a women’s ensemble from Seattle
Text Susanna Poikela Photo Ailisa Newhall
The Seattle-based Mägi Ensemble will perform three concerts around Estonia this week to honour the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Estonian composer Ester Mägi. The concerts will take place in Tallinn, Tartu, and Laulasmaa.
The Mägi Ensemble with give a concert at St Mary’s Cathedral in Tallinn on Tuesday, January 9, and at Tartu’s St John’s Church on January 11. In the Tallinn concert, the ensemble will be joined by the Tallinn women’s choir Kevad. In Tartu, the ensemble will be accompanied by the Eller Girls Choir.
The joint concerts of the women’s choirs, entitled “Distant Land: Ester Mägi 102”, honours and celebrates the 102nd birthday of the late composer Ester Mägi. Admission to the concerts, which will both start at 6 pm, is free of charge.
The Mägi Ensemble can be enjoyed at the Arvo Pärt Center in Laulasmaa on January 13, also at 6 pm. In this concert, the choir will also perform two works by Arvo Pärt. Tickets for the concert can be found at Fienta.
The repertoire of the Mägi Ensemble, who flew from Seattle to Estonia to perform, focuses on the music of the Baltic region. The works of female composers from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are closest to the hearts of the choir members. The members of the talented women’s choir work in their own fields as soloists, singing teachers, musicians, and also sing in other ensembles.
The Mägi Ensemble has participated in song festivals in both Estonia and Latvia. They have also released an album called Baltic Sounds.
Concert dates and venues:
09.01. St Mary’s Cathedral, Tallinn
11.01. St John’s Church, Tartu
13.01. Arvo Pärt Center, Laulasmaa
You can read more about the Seattle-based women’s choir here.
To learn more about this and similar topicsArvo Pärt Concert Elleri Girls Choir Ester Mägi Mägi Ensemble Tallinn Tartu
