The Haapsalu White Nights Music Festival 2024 Promises Unforgettable Performances

Text Mark Taylor
Photo Aivar Kullamaa

Rein Rannap

The popular Haapsalu White Nights Music Festival will take place from June 27-30 this year. Known for its diverse program, the festival caters to both music enthusiasts and holidaymakers, featuring performances in some of Haapsalu’s most notable venues. 

The festival utilises several significant locations in Haapsalu, including the Episcopal Castle Courtyard, the Haapsalu Dome Church, Uuemõisa Manor, and Villa Friedheim. 

The 2024 festival will be anchored by the world premiere of Tõnu Kõrvits‘s complete musical trilogy, performed over three nights by the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and three distinguished choirs: the Latvian Radio Choir, Voces Tallinn, and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, under the baton of conductor Risto Joost.

On June 27, the festival opens with a concert titled “Musical Moment” at Uuemõisa Manor. Violinist Andres Kaljuste and pianist Sophia Rahman will present the poignant violin and piano compositions of Heino Eller, a revered figure in Estonian classical music. This performance also serves as a launch for their new album recorded at the Arvo Pärt Centre.

Later that evening, the Haapsalu Dome Church will host the performance of “You Are Light and Morning,” the second part of Kõrvits’s trilogy. The piece, inspired by Cesare Pavese’s poetry, will be performed by the Latvian Radio Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Risto Joost.

On June 28, the festival will feature a jazz evening titled “Paths of Encounters” at Haapsalu St John’s Church. Marianne Leibur, a versatile singer, violinist, and composer, along with Joel-Rasmus Remmel on keyboards, will showcase a blend of Estonian jazz classics and original compositions.

The same night, the Haapsalu Dome Church will host the performance of “The Moorland Elegies,” the first part of Kõrvits’s trilogy, based on Emily Brontë’s introspective poetry. This performance will feature Voces Tallinn and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Risto Joost.

June 29 will include a discussion with composers Rein Rannap, Sven Grünberg, and Tõnu Kõrvits at Villa Friedheim. This engaging discussion will explore their creative processes and inspirations.

That day also features a promenade concert at Haapsalu Kuursaal. Students from Haapsalu Music School and participants of the Haapsalu Summer String Course will perform a delightful selection of works by Kreek, Pärt, and Kaasik, among others. This free concert embodies the festival’s community spirit.

In the evening, the Haapsalu Castle Courtyard will be the venue for a unique concert featuring Rein Rannap and the Estonian National Male Choir, conducted by Mikk Üleoja. The program will include Rannap’s well-known songs arranged for male choir, and the premiere of his new composition, “War Rode In.”

The Haapsalu Dome Church will then host “The Sound of Wings,” the final part of Kõrvits’s trilogy, inspired by Amelia Earhart. This performance by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Risto Joost, will close the trilogy on an uplifting note.

On June 30, the festival will feature a children’s concert titled “Sipsik” at the Haapsalu Cultural Centre. Pianist Anna Smirnova, narrator Anu Lamp, and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Rasmus Puur, will bring Eno Raud’s beloved character Sipsik to life through music.

The same day, “Konrad Mägi’s Letters” will be performed at the Haapsalu Cultural Centre Balcony Hall. This theatrical performance combines Mägi’s letters with his paintings, providing deep insights into the life and times of this prominent Estonian artist. The performance features actors and musicians from Theatrum and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

In addition to these musical performances, the festival includes historical walks starting at Haapsalu Town Hall, that explore the town’s cultural history. There will also be night cinema sessions, adding to the festival’s diverse offerings.

You can get more information from Estonian concert website.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Classical Music Haapsalu Haapsalu White Nights Festival Konrad Mägi Rein Rannap Tõnu Kõrvits Uuemõisa Manor