Festival 2023
Dear festival guests!
Once again, the festival Orient et Occident is offering the opportunity to enjoy the rare gems of the world of music from both Eastern and Western traditions, as well as musical encounters between these traditions. The 2023 festival schedule is different from all the previous ones, as the concerts will take place in different cities of Estonia, which is why the festival schedule has been extended accordingly. It is possible to listen at the opening concert of the festival FA Schola Ensemble, whose repertoire includes both European early and Asian music, but in recent years, Estonian traditional music and the new compositions of the ensemble members can also be heard in their performances. Indian classical music has been performed many times during the history of the festival, but this time the focus of the Indian music program is for the first time at the rhythmic world of North Indian classical music, which is opened to Estonian listeners by a recognized Indian young tabla virtuoso. Imran Khan. In addition to the colorful percussion solos, what makes these concerts special is that the complex Indian rhythms are built on traditional Estonian folk hymns chosen by Taivo Niitvägi, who will play them on the ancient Estonian folk fiddle called hiiu kannel. They are joined in the concerts by Kadi Uibo on harmonium and Arno Kalbus on tabla, shaman drum and ghatam. Persian Classical and Sufi music is performed by the world-famous tar and setar player and professor of the Tehran Music Academyr Mehran Mehrnia with Hamdam ensemble. The final concert of the festival will feature the works of medieval mystic Hildegard von Bingen, performed by one of the top vocalists, mezzosoprano Agnethe Christensen. She is accompanied instrumentally by meritorious fiddle player, Elizabeth Gaver who plays her own compositions and improvisations in respective modes and see the premiere of original choreographies created and performed on this music by Saile Johanna Langsepp.
Wishing you a beautiful festival experience!
Raho Langsepp,
Artistic Director of the Festival
