Classical music has a home in Estonia from 16\u201323 June in Suure-Jaani, just 20 minutes north of Viljandi. The 29th Suure-Jaani Music Festival, which has been organised since 1998, is one of Estonia\u2019s best-known classical music events, and features primarily Estonian music, with a particular focus on composers connected to the Suure-Jaani region. These include Mart Saar<\/b>, Artur Kapp<\/b>, Eugen Kapp<\/b>, and Villem Kapp<\/b>, whose musical legacy remains at the heart of the festival\u2019s programme. The festival is organised by the municipality of Suure-Jaani and the International Artur Kapp Society, and its artistic director is Andres Uibo<\/b>, whose last name surprisingly is not Kapp.<\/p>\n
Concerts and events are held across Suure-Jaani and the surrounding area. Traditional venues include St John\u2019s Church in Suure-Jaani, the Kapp family museum, local cultural centres, and outdoor locations. The festival has also expanded over the years to include sites such as Olustvere Manor, L\u00f5havere hill fort, and the famous H\u00fcpassaare bog island.<\/p>\n
Since 1998, the festival has developed a distinctive identity by combining traditional concerts with performances in unusual locations and formats. In addition to classical concerts, the programme includes discussions, exhibitions, competitions, and even meetings with musicians and cultural figures. According to the organisers, the festival has consistently sought to bring music closer to audiences through artistic excellence and unique settings alike.<\/p>\n
One of the festival\u2019s best-known traditions is the Sunrise Concert, which takes place at 3 in the early morning on 23 June on the H\u00fcpassaare bog island. Accessible via a boardwalk through the bog landscape, the concert combines live music with the natural light of dawn in Soomaa. The 2026 Sunrise Concert will feature tenor Heldur-Harry P\u00f5lda<\/b>, a French horn ensemble, and a string quartet, with texts read by M\u00e4rt Treier<\/b>.<\/p>\n